Prince George’s first Eton appearance has royal fans distracted by one detail
Prince George has officially started his first day at Eton College - and royal fans are all saying the same thing.
The 13-year-old was pictured on Tuesday (8 September), being waved off by his supportive parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, as he began this important life chapter.
The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled with their son the short distance from their home in Forest Lodge, Windsor Great Park, to the renowned private school, which has educated a string of Prime Ministers, Hollywood stars, and, of course, his dad and uncle, Harry and William, who both spent their teen years there.
Eton’s head master Simon Henderson told the future King, who was dressed smartly in a suit: “Welcome, good luck, enjoy it”.
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As photos have emerged of George's first day, social media users simply can't get over how tall he's gotten, almost reaching his mum's height in the pictures.
One X user wrote: "Prince George is so tall," while a second added: "Prince George looks like he got taller! Arrived for his first day at Eton."
A third gushed: "He is all grown up. I wish Prince George good luck for this new chapter of his life and that he will have a great time at Eton."
Meanwhile, a fourth chimed in with: "Best of luck Prince George! Gosh how tall is he…." and a fifth added: "How tall is George (Catherine is wearing heels)."
"He is so grown up! Have a fantastic year Prince George!!" wrote a fifth, while a sixth quipped: "George is definitely on the same height as his mother."
Others agreed: "He is definitely taller than his mother now" and "I think you’re right, Princess Catherine is wearing heels so he is most likely as tall as her."
George and his parents arrived in School Yard, the Berkshire institution’s historic quadrangle overlooked by Lupton’s Tower, a Tudor landmark, and at its centre was a statue of King Henry VI, who founded Eton in 1440.
Heavy rain had been falling all morning and only Kate sheltered under an umbrella as they walked across the square towards Eton’s headmaster and the provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge. William carried a folded umbrella, and George stood between his parents.
The group chatted for a few moments and Mr Henderson was overheard wishing George luck, before they disappeared through a doorway into one of the oldest parts of Eton.
The young royal is expected to change into 'school dress,' a uniform standardised in the 1960s of a black tailcoat, waistcoat and pinstriped trousers, with a stiff white collar.
Beyond academic learning and sporting activities, Eton has a reputation for instilling self-reliance and leadership as students have to fulfil many of their non-academic tasks themselves.
Admission is rigorous, with the boys going through stringent tests and parents paying an annual fee of £63,298.
As we say, William was an Eton pupil for five years beginning in 1995 and served as a house captain and prefect before leaving to study at St Andrews University, while Harry joined three years after his brother.
Eton’s roll call of famous past students includes actors Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Eddie Redmayne, a large number of prime ministers including Lord David Cameron, writers George Orwell and Ian Fleming, and adventurer Bear Grylls.
George turned 13 just a few months back in July and has spent part of the summer in Scotland with his family enjoying a break from studies after leaving Lambrook School, a private prep school in Berkshire he attended with siblings Princess Charlotte, 11, and eight-year-old Prince Louis.
He will get used to his new life at Eton over the coming weeks, where pupils call teachers beaks and live in one of 25 boarding houses led by a house master and dame providing pastoral care and support.
Topics: Prince George, Royal Family, UK News, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Parenting
Madison Burgess