Prince William refuses to have Prince George 'packed off to boarding school', says royal expert

Prince William doesn't want Prince George to share his boarding school experience, according to a royal expert

Prince William refuses to have Prince George 'packed off to boarding school', says royal expert
(Image credit: RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Prince William has no plans to send Prince George away to boarding school, a royal expert has revealed. 


Prince William may have spent the majority of his own youth at boarding school, but that doesn't mean he wants the same for his eldest son. 

The Duke of Cambridge isn't fond of the idea of Prince George leaving Kensington Palace for secondary education, having always wanted his children to study at a nearby day school. 

"It's my understanding for some time, possibly even before George was even born, was that William was quite keen that any child he had wouldn't be packed off to boarding school," royal expert Duncan Larcombe told OK! magazine. 

While the notion of removing the seven-year-old from his family home might sound strange, it isn't out of keeping with the Royal Family's educational history. Prince George is just one year younger than Prince William was when he was enrolled in Ludgrove School, a private all-boys boarding school in Berkshire. 

TOPSHOT - Britain's Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, accompanied by her father, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, her mother, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and brother, Britain's Prince George of Cambridge, arrives for her first day of school at Thomas's Battersea in London on September 5, 2019. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Kate Middleton and Prince William walking Princess Charlotte and Prince George to school 

(Image credit: TOPSHOT - Britain's Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, accompanied by her father, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, her mother, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and brother, Britain's Prince George of Cambridge, arrives for her first day of school at Thomas's Battersea in London on September 5, 2019. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images))

The Duke spent five years at the preparatory institution before graduating to the prestigious Eton College, where he again attended as a boarding student. Prince Harry followed in William's footsteps, graduating from Ludgrove and Eton two years after his older brother. 

Prince William with Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Harry on the day he joined Eton in September 1995. at the Various in Various, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage)

Prince William and Prince Harry with Princess Diana at Eton College in 1995 

(Image credit: Prince William with Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Harry on the day he joined Eton in September 1995. at the Various in Various, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage))

While the Duke has never publicly criticized his time at boarding school, he reportedly doesn't want to pass on the experience to his three children. 

"He's never intended to have his kids as full-time boarders and if George does go to a school that offers it, he'll likely be a day boarder," explained Duncan. 

Prince George currently attends Thomas's Battersea, a private primary school in London, alongside his six-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte. At £24,000 a year, the elite institution educates the offspring of some of the country's most affluent families. Pupils are expected to meet high academic standards and embrace a broad curriculum, whilst adhering to the school's overarching motto to "Be Kind." 

The youngest Cambridge child has yet to join his older siblings, having only begun his educational journey this year. Three-year-old Prince Louis's new nursery school treats toddlers to Royal Museum trips and French lessons, ensuring its attendees are fully equipped for the challenges of kindergarten (and impromptu trips to Paris).

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.