Prince George is preparing for one of the biggest milestones of his young life as he gets ready to start at Eton College, that also educated his father, Prince William.
At 13, the future King will soon walk through the famous gates of the historic school, following in William’s footsteps more than three decades after the Prince of Wales arrived there with Princess Diana in 1995.
While the father and son will share the same educational path, royal commentators believe George’s experience is likely to be very different.
Prince William’s years at Eton were shaped by extraordinary personal challenges.
His parents’ highly publicised separation unfolded before he began school, and just two years later he was devastated by the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
Royal author Robert Johnson believes George enters this new chapter from a far more stable family environment.
“George walks in from a settled home,” he told the Daily Mail, the young prince will not face the same emotional upheaval that marked William’s teenage years.
Johnson also noted that the young prince is no stranger to difficult moments.
Over the past two years, he has witnessed both his mother, the Princess of Wales, and his grandfather, King Charles, undergo cancer treatment.
“He has not been spared pain,” Johnson said.
“He watched his mother fight and beat cancer. He watched his grandfather live with it. He has emerged steadier.”
The royal expert also pointed to Eton’s location as an important advantage.
Situated just a short distance from Windsor Castle, the school allows George to remain close to home while adapting to boarding school life.
“Eton will be a challenge, but being close to home, in the shadow of Windsor Castle, will help,” Johnson said.
