In a surprising turn of events, the Prince and Princess of Wales recently visited Eton College, Prince William’s alma mater.
However, this visit was not just an official royal outing, but rather a visit focused on Prince George, their eldest son.
While Catherine and her children are currently enjoying a break with her husband, news has emerged about her surprise appearance at her own alma mater.
As previously reported, there has been a disagreement between the couple regarding the decision of where to send Prince George for his education.
Catherine has reportedly been considering sending him to her former school instead of the more traditional Eton College.
A source from the 46th E 995 Per Year Boarding School in Wiltshire revealed that Catherine recently visited the school, sparking discussions among parents who speculate that she may be considering Marlborough, a co-educational school where her sister, Pippa, and brother James were also pupils.
At 10 years old, Prince George still has some time before any final decisions need to be made about his future education.
Both Marlborough and Eton College accept full-time boarders from the age of 13.
Marlborough, based in Wiltshire, aims for a mixed-ability intake and is known to be less competitive than Eton.
It has been a trailblazer among traditional boys’ schools, being the first to admit girls into the sixth form.
The princess and her siblings reportedly cherished their time as boarders at Marlborough.
Catherine and William are both eager to allow Prince George to explore and grow as a child, going against expectations and traditions.
Catherine personally believes that sending him to a prestigious and traditional institution like Eton goes against their efforts to modernize the monarchy.
Additionally, she would miss her son dearly if he were far away.
Some royal experts agree with the princess, arguing that a move to a boarding school like Eton would contradict the family’s values.
Royal correspondent Jenny Bond suggests that a possible compromise could be weekly boarding or an ad-hoc system, which some schools now offer.
However, she also acknowledges the potential benefits of children learning independence from a young age.
Nevertheless, the idea of sending children away to be cared for by someone else is unimaginable to her.
She supports the idea of keeping the children close and nurturing them through their adolescence, just as they have been nurtured in their early years.
Despite the ongoing debate, the princess recently made a secret visit to Marlborough, her beloved co-educational school.
This has sparked further speculation among parents about her next move regarding Prince George’s education.
Catherine will not be accompanying William to Singapore for the Earthshot Prize Awards next month because Prince George will have school exams during that week.
This will be the first time Prince William attends the Environmental Award ceremony alone.
A source from Kensington Palace confirmed that the princess’s decision to stay at home was to support their elder son during his exams.
Prince George will be taking an ISEB test in November, which includes verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, math, and English.
It has also been reported that he will need to take another test in either April or May 2024, which will be held at Eton.
This test may consist of an individual interview or an online predictive test to assess his academic ability and potential.
Eton also requires a head teacher’s report, which covers a student’s academic strengths, interests, and character.
Successful candidates are offered a conditional place pending an entrance exam in year 8.
Similar tests are conducted around the same time for applicants to Marlborough College.
The debate surrounding Prince George’s education continues, with Catherine and William considering various options and weighing the pros and cons of each.