I hope that’s what he wants and he’s happy there. School days help to build a person. Mine nearly destroyed me.
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Prince George’s new school.
(135 Posts)I’m very disappointed to learn he’s going to Eton. Not that there’s anything wrong with the school, but I feel the family had the option to be more progressive. I’d like to have seen him go to a co-educational school like Marlborough, where Catherine went. It seems that tradition wins and nothing changes.
Just what the average 13 year wants - a trad school uniform made up of a Victorian frock coat and stiff wing collar to match.
Still, it has to be a million miles better than recent proposals that school uniforms should get an update and pupils should be allowed to wear tracksuits.
Really? If they look like chavs the chances are they might start acting like chavs......
About 35 years ago my son entered a writing competition and the top 15 or so had the chance during the holidays to attended Eton for a fortnight to be tutored by some of the school’s
masters.
We took him on the first day and went with him to his single bedroom. I was horrified it was worse than a prison cell. The door was just a piece of jagged cloth, the bed looked like what you would find in a prison cell. We reluctantly left him there for a fortnight.
Two weeks later we collected him. He said he had had the time of his life, learned so much and it had been a great experience.
For the last 17 years he has been a children’s author in some way thanks to Eton.
I hope Prince George has an equally good experience.
paddyann54
Aren,t ALL schools supposed to be safe?
After Dunblane schools are secured from unwanted visitors doors locked and entry for everyone checked.
Maybe these royal children should see how the rest of us live and understand that they are not universally liked/loved .
That might stop the entitled behaviour of them as adults!
A good dose of reality can only be for their benefit
I doubt if any member of the Royal family for several generations, if ever, has considered themselves to be we universally liked/loved.
Considering the immense security they have to live under and the number of assassination attempts on Royalty of all nationalities, including the British, I think they are probably even more conscious than most of how ambivalent many people are to them.
A school being safe is not the same as a school being secure. Nobody can be blind to the number of stabbings there have been inside supposedly 'safe' schools. What are the chances that child would try and stab Prince George because it would make him famous. The security detail needed to keep the young Prince safe would inevitably come between him and any kind of normal school experience or building frienships.
Eton is a school attended by the sons of many wealthy people and royalty, who have serious security concerns around their children. It is a school with the necessary experience to enable Prince George to enjoy a normal education, where he is just one of many at a a school rather than one singled out one that has to be treated differently.
DamaskRose
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 to Merlotgran and Rosie51 for their sensible posts and 👎🏻 to paddyann for her typically nasty one! George will be well aware of his position and that not everyone likes him as will all those in public life.
I live near Gordonstoun and have friends who sent their children there when the state system let them down. I would have considered it for my children had they needed to go. It is a completely different school now than in the King’s day. Is it right for George? No, I don’t think so. At Eton he will be near his family and will be able to see them regularly and be taken out by them. His parents will have considered all possibilities before reaching this decision.
I hope George will be happy and will thrive there.
Great post DamaskRose. Says it all 
I briefly taught at Eton many years ago (supply teaching post), and was impressed by the quality of my colleagues, which I don't suppose has deteriorated. In class, the boys were just like boys in any class. It is a good school. As for security, it must help those responsible for the royal family that it is so close to back-up at Windsor Castle, just down the road.
I hope he is happy at his school.
I hope he does not become Prince of Wales during his time there.
I wish Prince George well at Eton school and hope he will be happy there. His school will have been chosen with great care and rightly so. He is a future monarch and as such his education is paramount !
Eton has produced some brilliant actors - Dominic West, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddlestone, Eddie Redmayne - Not that George will need to tread the boards but drama 'ups' your confidence and trains your voice which he will need in the future.
What a lovely post Damaskrose
Eton is perfect for George and I think he will be very happy there. The parents have chosen well
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 to Merlotgran and Rosie51 for their sensible posts and 👎🏻 to paddyann for her typically nasty one! George will be well aware of his position and that not everyone likes him as will all those in public life.
I live near Gordonstoun and have friends who sent their children there when the state system let them down. I would have considered it for my children had they needed to go. It is a completely different school now than in the King’s day. Is it right for George? No, I don’t think so. At Eton he will be near his family and will be able to see them regularly and be taken out by them. His parents will have considered all possibilities before reaching this decision.
I hope George will be happy and will thrive there.
paddyann54
Maybe these royal children should see how the rest of us live and understand that they are not universally liked/loved.
I wish I didn’t believe you mean that. It’s the sort of bullying language I came up against when I moved schools, and I’m nowhere near nobility.
Sadly I think your
A good dose of reality can only be for their benefit.
means that some of the other children and even more sadly , their parents would make sure they knew that not everyone likes them!^
And you wish that on a child? Any child? Really?
Rosie51 your post,
Such nastiness aimed at an innocent child. I think they're becoming well used to the idea that some hate them just because of the family they've been born into.
is well put,
as is
merlotgran’s
I don’t like the thought of using a child as an experiment just to satisfy the ambivalent attitudes of some.
Fine if it works but what if it doesn’t?
Exactly, pamdixon.
Some posters believe that such schools set out to produce entitled, indulged humans, otherwise known as toffs.
But what do they know!
Sorry to disappoint you people who disapprove of Eton, but my 2 sons went there years ago and the education was stunning, and both my boys were very different levels academically and both thrived there. They emerged very well rounded individuals, and if you met them today you would have no idea they'd even been to Public School - let alone Eton! I am sure George will thrive there too and they are well used to providing security to all sorts of pupils that we know nothing about! I am sure its the right choice for him. If he hadn't passed his Common Entrance exam he wouldn't have been accepted............
paddyann54
Aren,t ALL schools supposed to be safe?
After Dunblane schools are secured from unwanted visitors doors locked and entry for everyone checked.
Maybe these royal children should see how the rest of us live and understand that they are not universally liked/loved .
That might stop the entitled behaviour of them as adults!
A good dose of reality can only be for their benefit
I don’t like the thought of using a child as an experiment just to satisfy the ambivalent attitudes of some.
Fine if it works but what if it doesn’t?
paddyann54
Aren,t ALL schools supposed to be safe?
After Dunblane schools are secured from unwanted visitors doors locked and entry for everyone checked.
Maybe these royal children should see how the rest of us live and understand that they are not universally liked/loved .
That might stop the entitled behaviour of them as adults!
A good dose of reality can only be for their benefit
Such nastiness aimed at an innocent child. I think they're becoming well used to the idea that some hate them just because of the family they've been born into. The crass booing at the trooping of the colour demonstrated that.
paddyann54
Aren,t ALL schools supposed to be safe?
After Dunblane schools are secured from unwanted visitors doors locked and entry for everyone checked.
Maybe these royal children should see how the rest of us live and understand that they are not universally liked/loved .
That might stop the entitled behaviour of them as adults!
A good dose of reality can only be for their benefit
I have never read of any entitled behaviour from William.
And where he schools should be your choice and not that of him or his parents? Really???
Aren,t ALL schools supposed to be safe?
After Dunblane schools are secured from unwanted visitors doors locked and entry for everyone checked.
Maybe these royal children should see how the rest of us live and understand that they are not universally liked/loved .
That might stop the entitled behaviour of them as adults!
A good dose of reality can only be for their benefit
I did read a couple of years ago when they were first thinking where to send him that George himself liked the idea of Eton rather than Marlborough. Its also well used to pupils who need extra security so it's not as disruptive as some schools might find it.
Cornishgreenhouse
What business is it of ours anyway?
They are sensible parents who have taken time and advice from others who have far more knowledge than we do on the matter. I’m sure George too would have had an input into the choice and looked around the different schools. I’m curious that others feel the need to even challenge what surely has been a very well considered decision.
Of course it's our business. The Royals are a constitutional monarchy funded from the Civil List.
Vegansrock
I"ve read that William would often turn up unexpectedly at Windsor for Afternoon Tea with his Granny. They enjoyed each other's company.
.
Barbadosbelle
Essexgirl145
There isn't anything you can reply to someone, possibly a Mother, who doesn't want the best for their child?
.
As a Head, I used to serenely reply, " Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Your child probably wouldn't be the right for this school anyway! Can I suggest you take a look at X, Y, or Z educational establishments." 😆
I respect everyone's choices.
Essexgirl145
There isn't anything you can reply to someone, possibly a Mother, who doesn't want the best for their child?
.
GrannyGravy13
All very logical
.
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