Why Prince George won’t share a room with anyone at Eton

Prince George, who turned 13 earlier this week, is starting Eton College in September, following his father’s footsteps. He will join a cohort of around 260 boys starting at the same time, but he will not be sharing a room with any of them – and that’s because it’s a strict rule at Eton that each boy has his own space.

The official website explains: “From the very beginning, each boy has his own study-bedroom: there are no shared rooms. Boys thus have their own private space and are required to organise themselves and to develop self-discipline in meeting tasks and deadlines.” So, while some boarding schools are a chance for boys to share with their peers, George will be granted a single room, like everyone else.

It will still be a major change for George, as until now he’s been a day pupil at Lambrook and has only dabbled with flexible boarding, whereas Eton is a full boarding school with no day or weekly pupils, so George will only return home for weekends and holidays. Luckily, the school is only a 16-minute drive away from the family’s beautiful home, Forest Lodge, where his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will still be staying. 

A daunting test

© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get

In the early days of George’s new school, he will be given a nerve-wracking test, though. Royal biographer and historian Hugo Vickers, who is a former alum of the iconic institution, has revealed exactly what the future King will face. Hugo explained in a piece for The Times that the pupils are all quizzed by a group of senior peers, with very little time to prepare for the grilling. One of George’s first trials will be his “colours test”, for which he must memorise the location of school buildings and the official colours of each of its 25 boarding houses.

A new sports facility 

© Matt Porteous / Kensington Palace

The prestigious college is in the process of overhauling the sports facilities. Part of the renovations have already taken place, and there is now an impressive swim facility. The Eton Sports & Aquatics Centre, named Athens, was completed in 2023. Still to come is a brand-new golf simulator and rifle range. Shooting is something George will be familiar with as it is a key part of royal history.

Despite the institution charging £65,000 a year per pupil, the website asks parents and friends for charitable donations towards the development projects.