Prince George's Eton Arrival: Privacy Measures Echo Prince William's Past
Prince George is set to attend Eton College, prompting new privacy signs and an expected media agreement similar to arrangements made for Prince William. Prince Harry also shared his contrasting experiences at the school.
Key takeaways
- Prince George will attend Eton College, where new 'No photography' signs have been erected.
- Privacy measures for Prince George's time at Eton are expected to mirror those implemented for Prince William in 1995.
- Prince Harry has described his own experience at Eton as a "profound shock" in his memoir.
- An agreement with the press historically limited media coverage of Prince William at Eton.
What Happened
Prince George is scheduled to begin his education at Eton College next month. In preparation for his arrival, the school has installed "No photography" signs outside its grounds to deter the public and press from taking pictures of students. This move reflects an ongoing effort to manage royal privacy at the institution.
Background
When Prince William started at Eton in September 1995, a formal agreement was established with the British press through the Press Complaints Commission to limit coverage of his time at the school. The commission's chairman at the time, John Wakeham, stated that Prince William was a boy growing into a man and not a public institution. This accord resulted in few photographs of William during his five years at Eton, outside of official events and occasional photoshoots. A comparable arrangement is anticipated for Prince George, with Kensington Palace expected to collaborate with the press on guidelines.
Prince Harry, William's brother, has offered a different perspective on his experiences at Eton, which he attended after Prince William. In his 2023 memoir, "Spare," Harry described his time at the school as a "profound shock" and felt overwhelmed, likening his experience to that of a "meek, abased pilgrim." He also commented on the school's uniform, suggesting it was designed for students to be in "perpetual mourning" for the founder, King Henry VI.
Key Facts
- Prince George will begin his education at Eton College next month.
- Eton College has installed "No photography" signs to protect student privacy.
- Prince William attended Eton College, starting in September 1995.
- An agreement with the British press limited coverage of Prince William during his time at Eton.
- Prince Harry also attended Eton College and wrote about his negative experiences in his memoir, "Spare."
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
