After two decades as a member of the British Monarchy, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has solidified her authority. A commoner entering a centuries-old system, she has, through years of perseverance, dignity, and quiet persuasion, achieved many changes. This week, it was confirmed that she accomplished one of her biggest changes to date.
Marlborough Confirmed Over Eton
After much deliberation, a pitch from King Charles III, pressure from Prince William and a warning from Prince Harry about traditional upbringing, Prince George will reportedly attend Marlborough College instead of Eton.
According to The Guardian‘s report by Sophia Money-Coutts: “A well-connected friend called me last week. ‘He’s going to Marlborough,’ she said authoritatively. ‘They’ve sent letters out to parents.’ She meant Prince George. After many years of debate, Prince George will – reportedly – go to Marlborough College next September, as his mother, aunt and uncle before him, and those with children in the same house have quietly been alerted. She could be wrong, my friend. This rumour mill has been churning for some time now, after all, with Eton and various others thrown into the mix, but she isn’t often wrong and treats gossip as solemnly as Oscar Wilde. So, Marlborough it may well be.”
Debating Marlborough’s Merits
The source also detailed the school’s contrasting selling points. One insider claimed the school caters to a certain type of wealthy parent: “It’s for very rich people who think they’re quite trad [traditional] and down to earth, but are completely delusional on that front.”
The insider also noted a potential drawback for William and Kate: “According to a mole, it’s also not very strong on phones and tech, ‘which is one of the things that William and Kate say they care about.’ This mole says that Oundle – also rumoured at various stages, also co-ed – would have been more sensible. ‘It’s genuinely more grounded and properly strict on phones.'”
Another reason Eton is not the path for the heir is that Andrew went there, and this recent horrific incident: “Earlier this month, it was revealed that a physics teacher, John Wright, took his own life after being sacked for “inappropriate conduct” during a school trip to Singapore and Malaysia.”
Presenting the defense is educational consultant Rhidian Llewellyn, a former headmaster: “It’s well documented that Catherine did not have a happy time at Downe House and, having transferred to Marlborough, she flourished. That works strongly in Marlborough’s favor. I also think that she’d like to educate the three children in the same school. Eton is obviously the most prestigious school in the world, and keeping their heads slightly further under the parapet with Marlborough perhaps makes sense.”
King Charles’s Symbolic Defeat
This decision hands King Charles a significant — if symbolic — defeat. Charles firmly believes that Eton is the best school for shaping future world leaders, a tradition he and William both follow.
- Prince William’s Shift: While Prince William has been asking questions for years, it seems that after two decades, he has finally been listening to his wife’s answers and wishes rather than being dictated by heavy, archaic traditions and unwritten rules.
- The Patriarchal Break: Some royal experts suggest that William “finally listening to his wife’s answers” signals a major break from the monarchy’s established patriarchal structures, handing King Charles a significant defeat.
Harry’s Quiet Victory
This move also marks a somewhat quiet victory for Prince Harry, who, in his book Spare and subsequent interviews, alluded to Prince William and Princess Kate that the rigid upbringing he and William received were not the best options and therefore not suitable for his nephews and nieces.
His own challenging experience at Eton is why he will not send his son, Prince Archie, to the school.
In September 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s spokesperson categorically denied circulating rumors that he had registered Archie for Eton, stating: “I can confirm that Prince Harry has not registered Archie for Eton, and the Duke has no plans to send his son to Eton.”
Kate Middleton is taking control.
