Prince Harry’s arrival at Eton College in 1998 was the most difficult transition in his young life. The Duke of Sussex, now 41, enrolled at the prestigious all-boys school just over a year after his mother, Princess Diana, died, a period that made his transition to school even more difficult.According to PEOPLE magazine, Harry is hoping that his older brother, Prince William, can help him stay out of school. Instead, Harry was met with a response that would remain painful for years to come. In his 2023 memoir “Spare”, Harry described how William asked him to distance himself in public, asking him to “pretend I don’t know him” at school.
Prince Harry’s difficult transition to Eton College
Harry described his experience starting at Eton as “absolutely amazing” in his diary. Harry explained William’s point of view. “He was making his own life, and he wasn’t going to give it up,” Harry wrote, admitting that his brother had already established himself at the school and didn’t want to change his role by accepting his younger brother.
How Prince Harry endured his school years
Instead of giving up on himself, Harry found a way that would serve him well throughout his years in the profession. Sports became his refuge during this difficult time of change and mental recovery. Harry grew up participating in a number of athletics, including rugby, football, cricket and polo, which provided him with both exercise and mental relaxation.
Harry revealed that rugby, football and other sports became his refuge during his difficult years at Eton. Photo credit (Instagram)
Years later, in retrospect, Harry spoke candidly about the part he played in escaping Eton. “Sports brought me together,” he told Time in June, emphasizing how important these activities were to his life during his school years.Beyond athletics, Harry also struggled with academics at the school. In ‘Spare’, he admitted that he was “in the way, in my head” academically, describing the change to the Windsor organization as very difficult. Eton College has long been recognized as one of the most prestigious schools in the world, having trained generations of leaders throughout British history including 20 prime ministers.
Prince William and Kate Middleton choose Eton for Prince George
Harry’s experience at Eton has taken on new meaning with the recent announcement that Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, will also attend the same school. On June 16, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince George will enroll at Eton in September, ending years of speculation about where the royal will attend secondary school.The decision surprised some royal watchers who had hoped that Prince William and Kate would choose a modern school for their son. However, the couple were determined that Eton, the school that produced Prince William, 43, was the right choice for Prince George, who is second in line to the throne.
In his Spare books, Harry recalled being upset when Prince William asked him to keep their relationship private at school. Photo credit (Instagram)
Research following the election of Prince William and Kate Middleton
According to royal watchers and those close to the family, the decision to send Prince George to Eton was not made hastily. Royal historian Sally Bedell Smith told the site in an interview that Eton represented the right choice for the young prince. “Eton was a very important place for William. This will give George the rigorous education he will need for his position,” said Smith, emphasizing the importance of the school’s ownership to Prince William and its educational value for the heir to the throne.Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, added more details about the seriousness of the election. “William and Catherine did a lot of research to make the right decision,” Anderson told the publication, noting that the couple visited Kate’s alma mater, Marlborough College, as they weighed their options.
Prince George’s interest in following in his father’s footsteps
Although he chose other schools, Prince George himself seems to have liked the path his father took. According to a source, the young prince also said he wanted to go to Eton. “George always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps,” the insider revealed, pointing out that Prince William’s schooling despite the strained relationship with his brother during those years has influenced his son’s outlook on education and his future career.
