Prince Harry’s arrival at Eton College in 1998 marked a particularly difficult transition in his youth. The Duke of Sussex, now 41, enrolled at the prestigious all-boys boarding school just a year after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, a time that added to the emotional challenge of his adjustment to the institution.According to PEOPLE magazine, Harry is hoping that his older brother, Prince William, will help ease his way into the school environment. However, Harry encountered an answer 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 from the public, asking him to “pretend I didn’t know him” at school.
Prince Harry’s difficult adjustment to Eton College
Harry described his experience starting at Eton as “a profound shock” in his memoir. Harry explained William’s view of the situation. “He’s made his own life, and he’s not ready to give that up,” Harry wrote, acknowledging that his brother had already established himself at school and was reluctant to change that established position by openly identifying with his younger brother.
How Prince Harry coped with his school years
Instead of withdrawing completely, Harry found an outlet that could sustain him during his years at the institution. Sports became his main refuge during this difficult period of adjustment and emotional recovery. Harry grew up participating in many athletic activities, including rugby, soccer, cricket and polo, all of which provided him with 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 time, Harry spoke candidly about the role of athletics in his survival at Eton. “Sport brought me together”, he told Time in June, emphasizing how important these activities were to his well-being during his school years.Aside from athletics, Harry also struggled with the academic demands of the institution. In ‘Spare’, he acknowledged that he was “in the way, in over my head” academically, describing the adjustment to the Windsor institution as particularly challenging. Eton College has long been recognized as one of the most rigorous educational establishments in the world, having educated generations of leaders throughout British history including 20 prime ministers.
Prince William and Kate Middleton chose Eton for Prince George
The dynamics of Harry’s experience at Eton took on new meaning 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 enroll at Eton in September, ending years of speculation about where the young royal will continue his secondary education.The decision surprised some royal observers who expected that Prince William and Kate might choose a more contemporary educational institution for their son. However, the couple ultimately decided that Eton, the school that formed Prince William, 43, was the right choice for Prince George, who is second in line to the throne.
In his memoir Spare, Harry recalled being hurt after Prince William 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 watchers and those close to the family, the decision to send Prince George to Eton was not made immediately. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the outlet in an interview that Eton represented an ideal choice for the young prince. “Eton is a much-needed haven for William. It will provide George with the rigorous education he needs for his role,” said Smith, emphasizing the school’s personal meaning to Prince William and its educational value for the future heir to the throne.Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson added more context about the thoroughness of the decision-making process. “Both William and Catherine did a lot of research to make the right decision,” Anderson told the publication, noting that the couple visited Kate’s own alma mater, Marlborough College, twice as they weighed their options.
Prince George’s motivation to follow in his father’s footsteps
Despite the option of alternative schools, Prince George himself seems to favor the path taken by his father. According to a source, the young prince expressed his own desire to attend Eton. “George has always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps,” the insider revealed, suggesting that Prince William’s positive experience at school despite the complexity of his relationship with his brother over the years has influenced his son’s outlook on education and his future role.
