Prince George has reached a major milestone after turning 13 earlier this week. The young royal is set to begin Eton College in September, following the same path taken by Prince William. According to Hello Magazine, he will join around 260 boys starting at the same time at the Berkshire boarding school. But one detail stands out straight away: unlike many boarding pupils elsewhere, George will not share his room. At Eton, every boy is given his own study-bedroom, making privacy and independence part of school life from the start.
Prince George Gets His Own Room at Eton
The college’s policy is clear and applies to every new arrival. "From the very beginning, each boy has his own study-bedroom: there are no shared rooms. Boys thus have their own private space and are required to organise themselves and to develop self-discipline in meeting tasks and deadlines," the school states according to Hello Magazine. For George, that means a single room as he settles into boarding life. It is a notable shift from the setup many families associate with traditional dormitories, where pupils often share space with classmates.
Prince George Faces Full Boarding Life
The move also marks a big change in routine. Until now, George has been a day pupil at Lambrook and has only experienced flexible boarding. Eton operates differently, with full boarding for all students and no day or weekly places. That means he is expected to return home mainly for weekends and school holidays. Even so, the distance from home is manageable. Forest Lodge, where Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will continue living with the family, is only about a 16-minute drive from the school.
Prince George Will Take Eton’s Colours Test
One of George’s earliest challenges will come in the form of a school tradition that can test even confident new pupils. Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, a former Eton student, wrote in The Times that boys are questioned by senior peers with little time to prepare. Among the first tasks is the "colours test", which requires new students to memorise the locations of school buildings and the official colours of all 25 boarding houses. It is a demanding introduction and one that places pressure on memory, focus and quick thinking.
Eton Expands Sports Facilities Before September
As George prepares to arrive, the school is also updating parts of campus life beyond the classroom. Eton has already completed the Eton Sports & Aquatics Centre, called Athens, in 2023. More additions are still in development, including a golf simulator and a rifle range. Those plans add to the school’s long sporting tradition and may suit George’s interests as he grows into his new environment. The annual fee stands at £65,000 per pupil, while the college also seeks charitable support for ongoing development work.
