The New Rule at Eton College Ahead of Prince George’s Arrival

On September 8, Prince George will begin his studies at Eton College, a boys’ boarding school in Berkshire, from which he will be able to return home on certain weekends and during school breaks. The son of Prince William and Kate Middleton will experience the discipline of a rigorous education that has shaped countless leaders before him, including his father, William, and his uncle, Prince Harry. At just 13 years old, the future king will undoubtedly be the center of attention… but the school has already taken steps to prevent any disruptions.

“No Photography” signs have recently sprung up on Eton’s gates, as noted by GB News. The media, onlookers, and even students are therefore prohibited from pointing their cameras and smartphones at students’ faces near the school grounds. The introduction of this new rule is part of a broader effort to protect the students, many of whom come from famous families, the outlet explains.

How does Eton College protect its students?

When they were students at Eton, William and Harry’s privacy was protected thanks to an agreement with the British press: the paparazzi, eager for photos and information about Charles and Diana’s children, left the young boys alone. This arrangement is now obsolete in the age of cell phones and social media, where anyone can become a reporter—a situation that is not without its frustration for the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are very concerned about protecting their children from media intrusions.

“If you’re not careful, you can intrude so much into someone’s life that actually you start unpicking everything,” the heir to the throne confided in a rare interview with Eugene Levy last fall. “And growing up, I saw that with my parents, the media were so insatiable back then—it’s hard to think of it now, but they were much more insatiable. They wanted every bit of detail they could absorb, and they were in everything, literally everywhere. They would know things; they’d be everywhere. And if you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family.” That said, the couple doesn’t hide their children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte (11), and Prince Louis (8) make public appearances at major events on the royal calendar, gently acclimating themselves to the hustle and bustle of this highly publicized life.

Also concerned about the negative impact of social media, the Prince and Princess of Wales—following Kate’s suggestion—do not allow their children to have cell phones. Prince William had stated during a trip to Brazil that his eldest son would “maybe” get one when he started middle school, but with “no internet access,” allowing him simply to send messages. Their use is, however, regulated at Eton College: First-year students, like George, are not allowed to have smartphones, but have access to a landline to contact their families.

Prince George will have his own personal space since he will be staying in a single room. “All boys benefit from having their own room from the start, always in small boarding houses of approximately 55 boys. They are cared for by a dedicated team of House staff led by the House Master and Dame,” explains the school’s official website.

Prince George, who has already experienced boarding school life at the end of his time at Lambrook School (where his sister and brother will return at the start of the school year), won’t have far to go to return to his room, his family, and his dogs, since Eton College, located in Windsor, is only a 15-minute drive from Forest Lodge, where the Wales family settled last year.

Originally published in Vanity Fair France.

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