Prince Harry’s arrival at Eton College in 1998 marked a particularly difficult transition in his young life. The Duke of Sussex, now 41, enrolled at the prestigious all-boys boarding school just one year after the passing of his mother, Princess Diana, a timing that compounded the emotional challenge of his adjustment to the institution.According to PEOPLE magazine, Harry had hoped that his older brother Prince William, might help ease his entry into the school environment. Instead, Harry encountered a response that would remain a source of pain for years to come. In his 2023 memoir ‘Spare’, Harry recounted how William asked him to distance himself publicly, requesting that he “pretend I didn’t know him” at school.
Prince Harry’s difficult adjustment at Eton College
Harry described his experience beginning at Eton as “a profound shock” in his memoir. Harry explained William’s perspective on the situation. “He was forging his own life, and he wasn’t willing to give that up,” Harry wrote, acknowledging that his brother had already established himself at the school and was reluctant to alter that established position by openly acknowledging his younger sibling.
How Prince Harry coped during his school years
Rather than withdrawing entirely, Harry found an outlet that would sustain him through his years at the institution. Sports became his main refuge during this difficult period of adjustment and emotional recovery. Harry grew up participating in multiple athletic pursuits, including rugby, soccer, cricket and polo,all of which provided him with both physical activity and psychological relief.
Harry revealed that rugby, football and other sports became his refuge during his emotionally difficult years at Eton.Image credit (Instagram)
Years later, reflecting on this period, Harry spoke candidly about the role athletics played in his survival at Eton. “Sport held me together”, he told Time in June, emphasising how essential these activities were to his well-being during his school years.Beyond athletics, Harry also struggled with the academic demands of the institution. In ‘Spare’, he acknowledged that he was “in way, way over my head” academically, describing the adjustment to the Windsor institution as deeply challenging. Eton College has long been recognised as one of the world’s most rigorous educational establishments, having educated generations of leaders throughout British history including 20 prime ministers.
Prince William and Kate Middleton pick Eton for Prince George
The dynamics of Harry’s experience at Eton have taken on new significance with the recent announcement that Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, will attend the same school. On June 16, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince George will enrol at Eton in September, concluding years of speculation about where the young royal would pursue his secondary education.The decision surprised some royal observers who had anticipated that Prince William and Kate might select a more contemporary educational institution for their son. However, the couple ultimately determined that Eton, the school that shaped Prince William, 43, would be the appropriate choice for Prince George, who is second in line to the throne.
In his memoir Spare, Harry recalled feeling hurt after Prince William reportedly asked him to keep their relationship private at school.Image credit (Instagram)
The research behind Prince William and Kate Middleton’s decision
According to royal observers and those close to the family, the decision to send Prince George to Eton was not made hastily. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the outlet in an interview that Eton represented an ideal choice for the young prince. “Eton was a much-needed haven for William. It will give George a rigorous education he will need for his role,” Smith said, underscoring both the personal significance of the school to Prince William and its educational value for a future heir to the throne.Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson added further context regarding the thoroughness of the decision-making process. “Both William and Catherine carried out a lot of research to make the right decision,” Anderson told the publication, noting that the couple twice visited Kate’s own alma mater, Marlborough College, as they evaluated their options.
Prince George’s enthusiasm for following his father’s path
Despite the option of alternative schools, Prince George himself appears to have favoured the path his father took. According to a source, the young prince has expressed his own desire to attend Eton. “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps,” the insider revealed, suggesting that Prince William’s positive experience at the school despite the complexities of his relationship with his brother during those years has influenced his son’s perspective on education and his future role.
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