The Prince and Princess of Wales have a huge decision looming – and it will directly impact future King, Prince George.
The couple’s oldest child, who is second-in-line to the throne, turns 12 later this year meaning his time at his current school of Lambrook will soon be over. George attends the Berkshire prep school with his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis but as he reaches his teenage years, he will have to move to a new school for older children.
There has been much speculation about which parent George might follow in the footsteps of with Prince William attending Eton College and Kate, a former pupil of Marlborough College. Both those schools see pupils board but at present, the 11-year-old is a day pupil at Lambrook.
Prince George with his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales ( Image: PA)
And royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that it would be wonderful if William and Kate broke tradition when it came to their school choice for George – especially after the tough year the family have faced in the wake of dealing with health challenges.
The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror: “From the reports we’ve had, it certainly seems that William and Catherine have undertaken a great deal of research into the best school for George – and, perhaps, the other children.
“I think it’s quite likely that, after the year they have had – and how unsettling it must have been for George and the other children, no matter how hard their parents tried to lessen the trauma of cancer – that they would all feel happier and more secure if they could remain as a tight family unit.
William and Kate with all three children – George, Charlotte and Louis ( Image: PA)
“Personally, I think it would be brilliant if they completely broke with tradition and, indeed, their own school background and sent all three the children to a day school for the rest of their education. That really would signal that this royal couple intend to do things differently.”
Traditionally, royal children have either been home-schooled or, as was the case forKing Charlesand his two sons, sent to boarding school – Charles boarded at Cheam School in Berkshire, aged just eight, making him the first heir to the throne to attend a “civilian” school, while Williamand his brother Prince Harry both attended Ludgrove School, also in Berkshire and then Eton.
However, Jennie believes that ultimately it will be George’s wishes that will be of the utmost importance for the couple – although she also predicts that other factors will be at play when it comes to making the huge decision, including William and Kate’s royal roles as the future King and Queen.
She added: “Of course it may be that George wants to board either full-time or as a weekly pupil and I think it is his wish that will prevail. William and Catherine have a great deal to consider.
“One or more of their children will be in full-time education for the next 12 years or so. With their increasing royal responsibilities, can William and Catherine be on hand enough if all three opted for a day school? They have a lot to consider.”
