Topics: Royal Family, Prince George, UK News, Prince William, Kate Middleton
Kensington Palace has 'delayed' a major announcement about Prince George, but there's actually a pretty good reason for it.
The future king marks a major milestone in turning 12 years old today (22 July) - an age which, if the Royal Family follow tradition, could see him forced to travel separately on royal visits and tours.
And that's not the only decision his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, have had to make as they've also got to decide which secondary school they'll be sending their eldest child to next year.
Now, I'm sure the pair will have already figured out such a decision behind closed doors, but they are actually still yet to release a statement to the public confirming where George will spend the next chapter of his education.
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According to GB News, the reason behind this is apparently down to public reaction.
The outlet reports that 'Kensington Palace has delayed its announcement of where George will attend secondary school due to the upheaval it could cause'.
Now, it was initially believed that the second-in-line-to-the-throne would be attending all-boys boarding school, Eton college - the same private institution which charges £21,099.60 per half-term which his father William and uncle Prince Harry both attended.
And, given the Royal Family's long history attending the school and experience in the necessary security measures, experts still reckon Eton will end up being the most likely option - but not every royal expert agrees.
"One of the things that the Royal Family have got to really take into consideration is the security arrangements," states Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, via The i Paper.
She added: "One of the reasons that I think he will go to Eton [is because] they are well versed there in educating senior royals."
But there's another school in the mix which is actually where George's mum, Kate, went to - none other than Malborough College.
While opting to send George there instead of Eton would mark a major break from royal tradition, it would mean that all three Wales children would all go to the same school - something Kate is reportedly keen for her children to do during secondary school too.
At the moment, George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis currently attend Lambrook School in Berkshire together, with Prince George having just one academic year left there.
"Sending them all to the same school - as they go to now - would make sense for looking after each other but also for security reasons," explained royal expert Phil Dampier to the Sun. "It will be easier to protect them all at the same school."
He also added: "Certainly the days of sending royal children to spartan boarding schools like Gordonstoun have gone, and William and Kate will want their kids to be happy and settled wherever they go.
"It’s all part of their determination to give them as normal an upbringing as possible, mixing with other children and growing up well balanced and grounded."
Fellow royal expert, Jennie Bond, echoed such sentiments, previously explaining to OK! magazine that the Wales' decision to keep their kids together has actually 'strengthened the family'.
"The fact that all three are at school together must strengthen their family unit, and their parents act like other parents in doing the school run as often as possible," she said.
"They can't change their destiny, but they don't have to confront it just yet except on special occasions.
"So I think William and Catherine have got the balance just right. The children obviously know they were born royal, but they don't have to be in the public eye very often - there will be time enough for that."
