From the iconic picture of Prince William signing a book at Eton with Princess Diana to King Charles walking into Gordonstoun with Prince Philip, boarding school has long been a rite of passage for the royals. Which is why all eyes are on Prince William and Kate Middleton, as they deliberate over where to send their eldest son, 10-year-old George, for senior school.

This week, it was reported that Prince William and Kate Middleton are considering St. Edward’s School (known as ‘Teddies’) in Oxfordshire for George. As Kate is still recovering from abdominal surgery, it’s unclear when she visited the school, but a source told The Daily Mail ‘they’ve been to have a look.’ The school has a long list of high-profile alumni, including Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke, Florence Pugh, and top military commanders, such as Guy Gibson.

This follows rumours that George could attend Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where Kate went to school, after she visited the campus twice in two months. She’s also apparently looking into Oundle School, which is based in Northamptonshire. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, it’s expected that Kate and William will decide on George’s school by the end of this year.

If Prince George were to attend any of the aforementioned schools, it would mark a significant break from the royal tradition of single-sex education. Eton College, the prestigious all-boys boarding school in Windsor, has a close relationship with the monarchy. Prince William and Prince Harry were both educated at Eton, alongside Prince Edward, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and Prince Michael of Kent. Eton has also schooled a host of international royals, including Leopold III of Belgium and Prince Nicholas of Romania.

So why isn’t Prince George following in his father’s footsteps when it comes to Eton? Royal watchers have suggested that Kate, who attended Downe House before Marlborough, isn’t fond of single-sex schools like Eton and doesn’t want George to board full time. While William hasn’t been very outspoken about his time at Eton, it’s thought that he thrived there and took the leading role in many sports teams, including swimming and football.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry has made no secret of his struggles at Eton. In his memoir Spare, he called it a ‘heaven for brilliant boys’ but ‘purgatory for one very unbrilliant boy.’ After being accused of cheating in his art A-level, Harry said he earned the nickname ‘Prince Thicko’ and described Eton’s infamous uniform, which consists of a black tailcoat, waistcoat, pinstriped trousers, and a top hat for special occasions, as ‘funereal.’

But alas, even Eton College was considered a departure from the royal norm once upon a time. Harry and William were the first senior royals to attend the school, as King Charles, Prince Philip, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew all attended Gordonstoun, a boarding school in Scotland. The decision was most likely driven by Charles, who is reported to have disdained his time there. He apparently nicknamed it ‘Colditz in kilts’, a reference to the prisoner of war-camp Colditz Castle. It is said that, in a letter home to the Queen, he wrote ‘I hardly get any sleep in the house because I snore and I get hit on the head all the time. It’s absolute hell.’

It could be that William and Kate also want something different for George then. The couple’s three children currently attend Lambrook School in Berkshire, where fees cost around 20k a year. Before the family relocated from London to Windsor in 2022, George and Charlotte attended Thomas’s Battersea. Speaking on Lorraine, Sunday Times Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah said the couple chose Lambrook because they want their children to have a ‘different type of schooling.’

‘It’s a very different set up. There’s a lot of emphasis on the outdoors, there’s animals there, a miniature golf course, peacocks that roam free throughout this school,’ she said. ‘It’s a very special, lovely school where children are encouraged to get outdoors. That’s part of the plan for William and Kate for their children to get outdoors and have a more normal life.’

This ethos is also reflected in William’s parenting style. In the past it has been reported that William is a very hands-on dad who always makes an effort to be present and spend quality time with his children. When it comes to Charles, royal biographer Penny Junor told The Daily Beast he could be a ‘remote’ figure but that wasn’t ‘a product of a lack of love.’ Harry has previously spoken out about how Charles was a caring father, and he tried his best as a single parent after Diana’s death. ‘[Our dad] was there for us—he was the one out of two left, and he tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after,’ said Harry in Diana 7 Days. ‘But he was going through the same grieving process as well.’

So, what does the future hold for Prince George? We’ll soon find out, but what’s certain is that whatever school William and Kate choose for their eldest son will make a marked statement about their parenting style.