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After spending much of the past year undergoing chemotherapy for the cancer diagnosis she revealed back in March, it makes sense that Kate Middleton would consider staying close to her family one of her top priorities. So it’s no wonder that the Princess of Wales balks at the thought of her firstborn going away to boarding school where he’d be separated from his younger siblings. But according to a royal insider, William has his sights set on boarding school for Prince George anyway … and he’s putting his foot down.
William is reportedly hoping that George will follow in his footsteps.
As the Mirror reported, as 11-year-old George is getting older, his parents are reportedly putting more thought into what’s next for him. He currently attends Lambrook school with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. A source claims that William sees Eton, the school he went to, as the next logical step. Kate has other ideas.
George and William are both into the idea of Eton.
But a source told the outlet Kate doesn’t like the idea of her son going to an all-boys’ school. Apparently, Kate would rather him go somewhere co-ed so he can stick close to his siblings in school the way she did with Pippa and James.
“Kate’s preference is for George to be at a co-education school, so he can be with his siblings, which is what Kate experienced at Marlborough with her sister, Pippa, and brother, James,” royal expert Katie Nicholl told the Mirror.
Kate reportedly believes Eton would be too ‘stuffy’ for his personality.
And more than that, it sounds like she’s “heartbroken” that he may not be happy there.
“William has very fond memories of Eton, which has a long history with aristocrats and members of the royal family,” Katie added.
The decision isn’t set in stone.
In fact, Katie believes there could still be “the possibility of traditions being changed.”
“William and Harry didn’t end up following in their father’s footsteps by going to Gordonstoun and it may be that George breaks the Eton mould and ends up somewhere else,” she said. “Whatever happens, it’ll be a decision made by William and Kate with George’s best interests factored in.”
For now, the family seems happy where they are.
And, as Katie mentioned while talking to the Mirror, Will and Kate appreciated the “sense of normality” Lambrook gave their children while Kate navigated her cancer treatment.
“The school gives them a great infrastructure and a great support network, and allows the children to live a regular childhood — a low-key, happy, albeit privileged childhood,” Katie said.
George could stay at Lambrook until the age of 13, but his parents will probably start making decisions soon.
