It’s a big summer for Prince George – his first as a teenager (he turns 13 at the end of July) and his last before senior school. A huge transition - and allied to that is his further preparation as future King.
For some, the choice of Eton College was distinctively unimaginative. After all, this is a school that has educated the future elite (and indeed Princes William and Harry) for centuries. A rather pithy line in the Good Schools’ Guide says it is ‘a school so good, that many people choose it despite its name, not because of it’.
So it was for the Prince and Princess, who were spotted visiting numerous schools over the last few years – and have studied everything from sports teams to mobile phone policies and pastoral care before reaching a decision.
George will start there in September - with his parents hoping he will make the same discreet, loyal band of friends that they themselves made at boarding school, and still count on today.
The timing of the announcement was entirely the decision of the Prince and Princess.
Although the decision had been taken some time ago, they wanted to wait until George had sat his final exams (Common Entrance) and deter any last-minute applications from royal hangers-on.
It’s a big transition for George - and one that his parents have thought about a huge amount. One of the deciding factors was that Eton is all boys - in the world of smartphones and social media, that gives any nascent teenage angst a little more protection. Another factor was the closeness to the family home of Forest Lodge, set in the environs of Windsor Great Park.
It’s to the absolute credit of Kate and William that they’ve managed to keep their children out of the public eye to such an extent that they enjoy a huge amount of privacy.
After George’s birth, they thought a huge amount about how to manage the public interest in their children.
Through the use of expensive lawyers clamping down on any unauthorised pictures, direct appeals to fellow parents not to take mobile phone pictures of their children and support from the mainstream media, you will never see a ‘candid’ shot.
In return, the Waleses release occasional official family photos of George, Charlotte and Louis to ensure their privacy is protected and thank the public for their support.
It’s meant that George, 12, Charlotte, 11, and Louis, 8, have enjoyed a very normal childhood (as much as it can be normal when you’re heir to the throne).
They compete in their school sports teams (George is apparently a talented swimmer, football player and competes in triathlons), perform in the end-of-term drama shows and are treated the same as any other pupil.
Eagle-eyed royalists may spot the back of one of the royal children in an outdoor lesson, meeting the Lambrook school tortoise Larry or competing in skiing competitions on their school’s website. But in the main, their Berkshire prep school has given them an anonymous and extremely privileged education.
That’s not to say that they are protected from every challenge. At this year’s Trooping the Colour, like last year, Kate and the children were booed as they rode to and from Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn landau carriage.
The pressure group Republic noisily protest at most royal occasions and their yellow placards of ‘Not My King’ are now a familiar sight.
But it was notable that the Princess of Wales fixed the group (mandated by the Metropolitan police to stand in a certain contained area of the Mall) with an icy stare as she passed.
She is more steely than appearances may suggest. And, certainly, will have been less than pleased that her young children were subjected to that, freedom of expression notwithstanding.
The Wales children finish school at the start of July and a summer holiday of sailing, swimming and picnics at Anmer Hall on the Norfolk coast beckon.
Prince William (possibly accompanied by football-mad George and Charlotte) may visit the USA for the football World Cup and celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence. But the family will also focus on life in Windsor.
Being the future face of the British monarchy is a lot to expect of the Wales children. But their slow and steady introduction to public life, plus the hugely hands-on parenting and emotional support of their mother and father, stand them in extremely good stead.