Prince George at Eton

[squashyhat]

Can anyone explain why Prince George is boarding at Eton when the family home is just minutes away across the river?

I would assume for many reasons such as

• saves on security back and forth to school every day
• encouraging him to be immersed in the school culture
• helping him have a sense of independence and individuality away from the RF

Because its a Boarding school, with its week mapped out for boarders not day students , from morning to bedtime 7 days a week.

maybe he wants to.

Because Prince William did the same and enjoyed it?

There isn’t a day option.

Because it’s just a boarding school, no day students

Many people prefer boarding schools and would argue it increases independence, self reliance, confidence, and lets kids immerse totally in the opportunities at school. We may board our eldest in a few years, I honestly think that it would be better for him and he is very keen to board. It’s not just a choice that people make as they’re far from their chosen school.

It’s a boarding school, @squashyhat…

I imagine it will be the closest to being independent he could hope for?
He can hardly get the bus to the local school with dozens of other kids.
At least at a boarding school which will be secured by the security team, he can be independent within the grounds

Why bother having children?

Can anyone explain why Prince George is boarding at Eton when the family home is just minutes away across the river?

Because Eton is a boarding school.

What school do you suggest he should be going to?

There's no need to be rude. Sending a child to boarding school is normal in a lot of families.

Boarding is mandatory at Eton.

The ethos is for the boys to immerse themselves fully in the life of the school, including activities outside the classroom, clubs, sports etc. They're only allowed a limited number of 'exeats' - days/afternoons away - during any given term.

That's an exceptionally rude comment!

I have no experience of boarding but parents who choose this option do so for a variety of reasons and with their childrens' best interests at heart

If anything he is later to boarding than a lot of other children who would have started at 11 or even at 8 as his father did.

I think a lot of young people probably really enjoy boarding school. There is no way that parents like W&K should not have children. They are clearly loving and caring parents.

In a tiny minority of families.
Its a valid choice, but its far from a common experience.

It’s sad. Poor kid. He never looks happy. Now he’s off to an institution. It’s not real life.

This particular school isn’t that easy to secure completely, though, @ChocHotolate. The boys are up and down the High St (which is an entirely public thoroughfare) all day, every day.

It’s probably a good thing. He may pass the odd ordinary person, (as well as hordes of tourists,) who hasn’t been vetted by a security team first.

(Has the hugely sarcastic encampment of homeless people opposite Windsor Castle been dismantled yet, btw?)

If you believe in boarding school it’s the obvious choice. I suppose even if you secretly think boarding school is psychologically damaging, as many people do, if you’re a member of the Royal Family it’s the obvious choice.

They are a damaged bunch.

It’s very much the precursor to the rest of his real life, @BarbaraUsher. He’ll be rubbing shoulders with exactly the young men (including those on 100% bursaries who may go on to conquer the world) who will form the international coterie of gilded and gifted and powerful people he’s surrounded with as a prince and beyond.

Military & diplomatic families often see boarding schools as the best option for their children so that they don't have to keep swapping schools during the house moves that are forced upon them by their working lives . . .

Why do you believe boarding school today is psychologically damaging?

He'll probably have lots of contact with his family being so local