Inside Prince George’s Surprisingly Modest Room At His $80,000-A-Year Boarding School

Prince George may be second in line to the British throne, but his new accommodations are reportedly far more modest than royal watchers might expect. The 13-year-old officially began studying at Eton College on September 8, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry.

Although the prestigious boarding school costs approximately $80,000 annually, George’s private room reportedly contains only a single bed, desk, and shelves. The future king will receive more spacious accommodations as he advances through the school, but for now, he appears to be starting his Eton experience much like the other first-year students.

Prince William and Kate Middleton accompanied their eldest son to Eton for his first day, helping him begin the major transition from living at home to becoming a full-time boarding student. According to PEOPLE, George was escorted into the school’s fourth-form passage after meeting headmaster Simon Henderson and provost Sir Nicholas Coleridge. Kate was photographed placing a protective hand on her son’s back before she and William helped him settle into his new room.

Despite Eton’s enormous price tag and elite reputation, George’s first-year accommodations reportedly include just three primary furnishings: a single bed, a desk and shelves. He will not have to share the space with another student, however. Every boy at Eton receives his own room within one of the school’s 25 boarding houses.

George’s room will also become larger as he progresses through the school, meaning the simple arrangement is only the starting point for his life at Eton.

Eton College Costs Approximately $80,000 A Year

The understated bedroom provides a surprising contrast to the cost of attending the centuries-old school. PEOPLE placed Eton’s annual price at approximately $80,000. The all-boys boarding school was founded by King Henry VI in 1440 and has developed a reputation as one of Britain’s most prestigious educational institutions.

In addition to Prince William and Prince Harry, Eton has educated 20 British prime ministers. Actors Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis and Tom Hiddleston are also among its former students.

Despite the school’s famous alumni and high fees, George’s modest room suggests students are not immediately surrounded by extravagant personal luxuries. Instead, the private space appears designed to provide the essentials needed to sleep, study and store belongings.

William And Kate Helped George Begin His New Chapter

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George did not arrive at Eton wearing the school’s recognizable uniform. Instead, he wore what PEOPLE described as “home clothes,” consisting of a dark blazer, chinos, a light blue shirt, navy tie and brown suede shoes. William wore a similar outfit as he walked beside his son, while Kate battled the early fall drizzle with an umbrella.

The headmaster greeted George with five encouraging words: “Welcome. Good luck. Enjoy it.” The milestone brought William back to the boarding school he attended between 1995 and 2000. When William arrived for his own first day 31 years earlier, Princess Diana and the future King Charles accompanied him despite having separated in 1992. A 10-year-old Harry also joined the family for the occasion.

This time, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were not present as their older brother settled in. The younger Wales children will remain at Lambrook School, where all three siblings had studied together since 2022. George’s move consequently marks the first time in four years that the three children will no longer attend the same school.

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Although George will live at school, Eton is located near Windsor Castle and the Wales family’s home, keeping him relatively close to William, Kate, Charlotte and Louis. That proximity once allowed William to maintain an especially meaningful family connection during his own time there. Reuters reported that the Prince of Wales would visit Windsor Castle on weekends to have tea with his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

William has spoken positively about his experience at Eton, which differed considerably from King Charles’ reported difficulties at Gordonstoun in Scotland. Charles attended the school previously chosen by his father, Prince Philip, while William became the first royal to enroll at Eton.

George is now continuing the educational path established by his father. His first day also fell on the fourth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death and Charles’ accession to the throne.

The Future King Will Experience Eton’s Unusual Traditions

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George’s simple room is only one part of the very different life awaiting him at boarding school. Eton retains many of the customs developed throughout its nearly 600-year history. Students wear distinctive uniforms featuring tailcoats, waistcoats and striped trousers.

They also use school-specific terminology, including calling their teachers “beaks.” The young royal will balance those traditions with the more ordinary realities of boarding-school life, beginning with the modest room William and Kate helped him settle into.

While George’s royal position distinguishes him from his classmates, his single bed, small desk, and basic shelves indicate that Eton does not appear to be giving the future king palace-style accommodations, at least not during his first year.