The Duke of Sussex has spoken about the challenges of adjusting to boarding school shortly after losing his mother, Princess Diana. Image credit (Instagram)
Prince Harry’s arrival at Eton College in 1998 was a very difficult transition in his young life. 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 timing that exacerbated the emotional challenge of his adjustment to the institution.According to PEOPLE, Harry was hoping his older brother, Prince William, would help ease him into the school environment. Instead, Harry was faced with a response that would remain a source of pain for years to come. In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry told how William asked him to distance himself in public and told him to “pretend I didn’t know him” at school.
Prince Harry’s difficult adjustment to Eton College
Harry described his experience at Eton as a “profound shock” in his memoirs.
Harry explained William’s perspective on the situation. “He was forging his own life, and he wasn’t willing to give that up,” Harry wrote, admitting that his brother had already proven himself at school and was reluctant to change that entrenched attitude by publicly acknowledging his younger brother.
How did Prince Harry cope during his school years?
Instead of withdrawing completely, Harry found an outlet that would support him through his years at the Foundation.
Sports became his main refuge during this difficult period of adaptation and emotional recovery. Harry grew up participating in many sporting activities, including rugby, football, cricket and polo, all of which provided him with physical activity and psychological comfort.
Aside from athletics, Harry also struggled with the academic demands of the institution. In “Spare,” he admitted that he was “way in over my head” academically, describing adjusting to the Windsor institution as a huge challenge. Eton College has long been recognized as one of the world’s most rigorous educational institutions, having educated generations of leaders throughout British history including 20 Prime Ministers.
Prince William and Kate Middleton choose Eton for Prince George
The dynamics of Harry’s experience at Eton have taken on new significance 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 attend Eton University in September, ending years of speculation about where the young prince will pursue his secondary education.The decision surprised some royal observers who had speculated that Prince William and Kate might choose a more modern educational institution for their son.
However, the couple eventually decided that Eton, which shaped Prince William, 43, would be a suitable choice for Prince George, second in line to the throne.
The research behind Prince William and Kate Middleton’s decision
According to royal observers and those close to the family, the decision to send Prince George to Eton was not made in haste. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the outlet in an interview that Eton represented an ideal choice for the young prince.
“Eton was a much-needed haven for William. It will give George the rigorous education he will need for his role,” Smith said, underscoring the school’s personal importance to Prince William and its educational value to the future heir to the throne.Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary, Elsa Anderson, added further context regarding the precision 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 twice visited Kate’s alma mater, Marlborough College, where they weighed their options.
Prince George’s enthusiasm to follow his father’s path
Despite the option of alternative schools, Prince George himself appears to have preferred the path his father took. According to a source, the young prince expressed his desire to attend Eton. “George always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps,” the insider revealed, noting that Prince William’s positive experience at school despite the complexities of his relationship with his brother during those years influenced his son’s view on education and his future role.