Other British Royals and Relations

[OnyxRose]

George at least will probably go to Eton. It’s right there near Windsor and all signs point to William and Catherine staying there permanently. All three kids will stay at home for as long as they can.

[americanchai]

I imagine they will do whatever their friends do. People in their circles are friends generationally, forever and ever, amen. In British society, that means sending your kids to the same schools as your friends. Thus, the stratification of society continues. Kate wouldn't have met William if her parents hadn't sent her to very prestigious private schools. Yes, they met at St Andrews but she probably went to school with other kids who had connections to William. She wasn't just some random girl they picked off of Craigslist to live with them.

[Ladybug]

Jun 9, 2007 10:03:44 GMT -4 hellsbells said:

So, if William & Kate's kids do not go to boarding school, would they be the first in the line of ascension who didn't?

Queen Elizabeth didn't go to school at all. She had lessons with a governess, and later a private tutor at Eton, but never went to school with other children. Neither did Princess Margaret.

[seat6]

Well, I just looked up Eton and boarders start at 13. It is one of three in the UK that has remained boys only.

And it is seven days a week—no going home on the weekends.

However, when William was there he was taken out of school once a week (I think) to have a meal with Queen Elizabeth and to discuss his role within and responsibility to the monarchy.

I’m sure the same could be arranged for George.

[hellsbells]

I wonder if the teenage boys are gentler on the future king at boarding school or if they go harder at them and bully them harder bc it's a challenge.

[seat6]

I believe both William and Harry were targeted for bullying because of their status. I believe Charles was as well.

I haven’t read Harry’s book—I’m just going by memory so feel free to correct me.

Both of them were fairly athletic, so that helped. And both of them maintained friendships with their boarding school friends well into adulthood. (Harry only became distanced from his friends once he was married).

[hellsbells]

I went to boarding school here in the US for a year, and it wasn't an experience I would wish on my child. I feel that there, in the UK, it's more about tradition, and that hazing is part of the tradition. I'd be really uncomfortable sending my kid into that.

[Auroranorth]

Apr 19, 2024 4:50:17 GMT -4 hellsbells said:

I wonder if the teenage boys are gentler on the future king at boarding school or if they go harder at them and bully them harder bc it's a challenge.

I think I remember the Duke of Windsor saying as a midshipman the other midshipmen definitely did some extra hazing where he was concerned. I wouldn't be at all surprised.

[featherhat]

Apr 20, 2024 7:52:41 GMT -4 hellsbells said:

I went to boarding school here in the US for a year, and it wasn't an experience I would wish on my child. I feel that there, in the UK, it's more about tradition, and that hazing is part of the tradition. I'd be really uncomfortable sending my kid into that.

I think that's kind of an old fashioned view, depending on the school. Certainly hazing used to be a part of it but it's not like that anymore - at least not more than any other type of school. Bullying obviously exists. Kate apparently got badly bullied at Downe House.

One reason boarding school might be good for them is that it gives them a chance to more easily become "just one of the gang" and disappear into school life rather than be the ones who go home to a literal castle every night (castle adjacent anyway).

I saw chatter about Oundle School, which is co ed and means they could all go. Marlborough keeps coming up as it was Kate's old school but neither are near Windsor.

[Ginger]

Apr 23, 2024 20:23:08 GMT -4 Auroranorth said:

Apr 19, 2024 4:50:17 GMT -4 hellsbells said:

I wonder if the teenage boys are gentler on the future king at boarding school or if they go harder at them and bully them harder bc it's a challenge.

I think I remember the Duke of Windsor saying as a midshipman the other midshipmen definitely did some extra hazing where he was concerned. I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Eddie Redmayne went to Eton with Prince William and said everybody always wanted to be the one to clobber the future king when they played rugby. That might not rise to the level of hazing through. (And would probably have been the same at any school William attended.)

I believe Prince Harry indicated in his memoir (which I have not read) that William was happy at Eton, so he must have learned the social skills necessary to make friends in spite of the baggage he carried.