It was inevitable that Prince George would go to Eton

Harry Mount

It was, in the end, inevitable. Kensington Palace confirmed yesterday that Prince George will go to Eton in September. There had been talk of him going to his mother’s alma mater, Marlborough. But his father’s old school won out. George had, it turns out, in fact been put down for Eton over four years ago.

It makes sense. Eton is close to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where the Prince and Princess of Wales live. It’s even closer to grandpa’s house, Windsor Castle. When Prince William was at Eton, he often walked across the bridge to see granny in her castle.

But the deciding factor in sending George there now was that Prince William didn’t just go to Eton – he loved it there. He was in ‘Pop’, the self-selecting club of the most popular boys in the school. Many of his closest friends today were made at Eton. Prince Harry, on the other hand, struggled academically at Eton and didn’t enjoy himself so much. Don’t expect his son to be heading there when he turns 13.

Of course, Prince George, as the future King of England, will always stand out in any group