As Prince George approaches a significant milestone, royal watchers believe a crucial decision about his education has already been made behind palace doors.
The School Decision Looms
Prince George is set to begin secondary education in September 2026, sparking intense speculation about where the future king will study. While the official announcement is yet to come, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggests the matter is likely settled.
Speaking to the Mirror, Bond revealed her belief that with less than a year remaining until George starts secondary school, his educational future would have already been determined. The young royal, who is second in line to the throne, will celebrate another important milestone by becoming a teenager in the coming year.
Weighing Tradition Against Modern Parenting
The debate continues about whether George will follow royal tradition by attending Eton College, the alma mater of his father Prince William and uncle Prince Harry, or whether he might follow his mother's educational path.
Kate Middleton attended Marlborough College after reportedly experiencing bullying at Downe House. The college is situated over an hour west from the Wales family's home at Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate.
Bond expressed personal reservations about boarding school arrangements, stating: "I think it's a great shame if he's going to be sent away to board and I would have thought that would go against some of Catherine's central beliefs." However, she acknowledged that since Kate herself attended boarding school and seemed to enjoy it, "she feels ready to cross that bridge with George."
Balancing Royal Duties and Family Life
The Princess of Wales has increasingly returned to royal engagements since announcing her remission from cancer, while maintaining her strong commitment to hands-on parenting.
This week alone, Kate delivered her first speech in two years at a summit hosted by her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, followed by attending the Royal Variety Performance with Prince William the next day.
Bond praised the Duchess's approach to motherhood, noting: "I admire Catherine for practising what she preaches. She is a hands-on mum as much as she can possibly be and she has encouraged William to be a full-on dad."
The Wales family has previously faced criticism for ring-fencing school holidays as family time, but Bond emphasized that "Catherine believes passionately that these early years in her children's lives are by far the most important and formative, and she's determined to be there for them as much as possible."
With 2026 set to bring substantial changes for the royal family, all eyes remain on how Kate will master dividing her time between increasing royal responsibilities and her children's pivotal educational transitions.
