Thank you for subscribing!

The young royal now has the chance to create his own path at the prestigious institution

Prince George, 13, was joined by Prince William and the Princess of Wales as he arrived for his first day at Eton College, embarking on a new chapter in the future king's education.

The young royal is continuing a firmly established family tradition as his father, the Prince of Wales, his uncle, the Duke of Sussex, and his great-uncle, Earl Spencer, all passed through the same institution.

George's most recent prominent public outing was alongside his family at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He previously completed his preparatory education at Lambrook School, the independent Berkshire school where his younger siblings Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, also study.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were seen visiting Eton with George back in 2023, prompting widespread speculation that the school topped their shortlist.

As a boarder, the prince will be given his own single room in one of the school's 25 boarding houses, each of which houses around 55 students supervised by a house master and residential staff.

The annual cost of attending the elite institution is roughly £65,000, with admission requiring boys to pass demanding entrance assessments.

Eton's Berkshire setting offers practical convenience for the Wales family, situated close to their Windsor home.

The school's influence on British public life is clear as it has educated 20 prime ministers over the course of its history.

Its reputation rests not only on academic achievement but on fostering self-reliance and leadership, with pupils expected to take on a wide range of responsibilities beyond the classroom.

The roster of distinguished Old Etonians stretches far beyond Downing Street. Lord David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Kwasi Kwarteng and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg all walked the school's corridors before entering political life.

In literature, George Orwell and James Bond creator Ian Fleming rank among its most celebrated former pupils, while adventurer Bear Grylls also attended.

The entertainment industry has benefited handsomely from Eton's alumni too.

Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, Damian Lewis, Dominic West and Tom Hiddleston all received their education at the school before finding fame on screen.

Prince William has spoken fondly of his own time at the school.

At 18, William reflected on how it gave him a sense of ordinariness: "I've really enjoyed being able to go about Eton as just another student," he said in June 2000.

His father, King Charles, had a markedly different boarding school experience.

Charles attended Gordonstoun in the Scottish Highlands, following in the footsteps of his own father, the late Duke of Edinburgh.

He later described the experience to biographer Jonathan Dimbleby as "a prison sentence," though he acknowledged it instilled self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.

William's arrival at Eton on September 6 1995 was captured by the press, with Charles and Diana accompanying him as he signed in.

George now has the chance to create his own path at the institution.