Princess Kate and Prince William are poised to make a massive decision over the education of their eldest son Prince George.
Reports have claimed that Kate, 43, has recently been spotted touring some exclusive private schools in London. The sightings have sparked rumours that the Prince and Princes of Wales may be poised to break with tradition and swerve sending the future King to Eton College – a prestigious boarding school in Windsor, where both William and Harry were educated.
The Daily Mail reported that before the Christmas holidays, Kate was spotted visiting the elite University College School (UCS) in Hampstead, which sets parents back a whopping £10,000 each term.
The report also claimed that the future Queen may have taken a tour around the nearby Highgate School the same week, which was closed for a “special VIP visitor” which they reported was Kate.
The elite north London day schools may both be options for 11-year-old George’s secondary education – he is due to leave his current school, Lambrook, in 18 months – and both his siblings, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six also attend the Berkshire school, which caters to pupils up to the age of 13.
Kate is reported to be keen for all three of her children to stay at the same school, which might cross Eton College off the list as it only caters to boys.
Her own secondary school, Marlborough College, located in Wiltshire, is said to be her top choice -according to the Mail’s report.
The co-educational boarding school costs £59,000 per year, and the Mail reports a space is ready for George should Kate and William decide that is where he should go for secondary school, “Prince George is believed to have been offered a place and a house has already been earmarked for him. It is said to be the best option for his security requirements.”
Other front runners for the next school George will enroll in include Oundle School – located in Northamptonshire, this centuries-old school sets parents back up to £45,435 per year – and St. Edward’s, fondly known as ‘Teddies’ in North Oxford.
It would be an “unexpected” move if Kate and William decided to opt for UCS or Highgate School, a source told the Mail but added that after the health challenges Kate has faced over the last year – she recently announced her cancer is in “remission” – she may want to spend as much time as possible with her three children, instead of opting for boarding school.
“With the year Catherine has had, she may well have thought to herself that she wants to soak up every drop of George’s childhood and tuck him into bed herself each night,” the source was quoted as saying.
Both Kate and William are widely reported to have loved their own boarding school years, but the pair are undoubtedly hands-on parents – who prefer to do many things for their three youngsters themselves.
However, it is not yet clear the reason behind Kate’s reported recent visits – and it is always possible that it was regarding something else entirely.
