For Prince George, the journey toward his future role as king reached another significant milestone this week. The young royal officially began his time at Eton College, the same prestigious institution that helped shape Prince William decades earlier.
With cameras capturing the moment and royal history echoing through the Berkshire campus, George’s first day carried far more weight than a typical school arrival, marking the beginning of a chapter closely tied to his father’s own path.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were on hand to mark their eldest son’s first day at Eton College, arriving alongside the 13-year-old as he took a major step into the next stage of his education.
Despite the rainy conditions, the family appeared in high spirits as they made their way toward the school’s entrance.
Kate carried a black umbrella while wearing a forest green dress, black pumps, and her signature sleek curls.
William kept it classic in a black suit, blue tie, and brown shoes, holding a closed umbrella at his side.
George looked every bit the future king as he joined his parents, dressed in a similar outfit before changing into his school uniform.
The trio smiled, laughed, and chatted as they made their way across campus, creating a striking image of a family sharing an important moment.
Prince William Sees History Repeat Itself At His Former School
4Upon reaching the entrance, Kate, William, and George were greeted by Eton headmaster Simon Henderson and Sir Nicholas Coleridge, the school’s provost and chair of the governing body.
According to PEOPLE, Henderson warmly welcomed the young royal, telling him, “Welcome. Good luck. Enjoy it.” The occasion remained focused on George, with neither Princess Charlotte nor Prince Louis joining their parents for the visit.
The significance of George’s arrival extends far beyond his first day of classes. The moment closely echoed an event from Prince William’s own childhood, creating a remarkable full-circle moment for the royal family.
Thirty-one years ago, a 13-year-old William arrived at Eton College for his own first day, accompanied by his parents, Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles. Like George, he entered the prestigious institution as one of the world’s most closely watched young royals.
William remained at Eton from 1995 until 2000, spending five formative years at the school before moving on to the next chapter of his education.
His younger brother, Prince Harry, later followed the same route, attending Eton between 1998 and 2003.
Prince William To Represent King Charles At Norway State Funeral
4Prince George’s first day at Eton showed how closely he is following Prince William’s path. Now, William himself is stepping into one of the most significant responsibilities of his royal role, representing the Crown on the international stage.
On Monday, PEOPLE reported that the Prince of Wales would travel to Oslo to attend the state funeral of Norway’s King Harald V on behalf of King Charles.
The late monarch died on August 28 at age 89 after a 35-year reign, with his funeral scheduled for September 9 at Oslo Cathedral.
According to the outlet, William will attend as an official representative of the British monarch, following the long-standing royal convention that reigning sovereigns typically do not attend the funerals of foreign heads of state.
Princess Anne will also be present, although in a private capacity as godmother to Norway’s new king, Haakon VIII.
The funeral is expected to draw royals and dignitaries from across Europe, including representatives from Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Jordan, Monaco, Japan, and the Netherlands.
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Prince William Receives Unusual Honor From Robert Irwin
4Away from royal duties, William recently received one of the most uniquely Australian tributes imaginable, a crocodile named in his honor.
According to PEOPLE, conservationist Robert Irwin revealed that a 12-foot saltwater crocodile had officially been named “Prince William.” The reptile is the 300th crocodile tagged as part of a major wildlife research project at the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Australia.
Irwin said the name was chosen in recognition of William’s long-standing commitment to conservation and environmental initiatives, particularly through the Earthshot Prize.
The pair have crossed paths multiple times through environmental work, including appearances at Earthshot events in London and South Africa.
Researchers have fitted the crocodile with a tracking device to monitor its movements and biology over the next decade.
The project is designed to provide valuable data on the species and support long-term conservation efforts.
Prince William Says Homelessness Is A ‘Systemic Failure’
4While environmental work remains a major focus, Prince William has continued to devote significant attention to another cause he has championed for years: ending homelessness.
In June, he marked a milestone for his Homewards initiative, and William delivered one of his clearest statements yet on the issue. “Homelessness is not an individual failure; it is a systemic failure. And, if systems help create the problem, then systems can help prevent it,” the 44-year-old said per ITV News.
Homewards launched in 2023 through The Royal Foundation to show that homelessness can become “rare, brief and unrepeated.”
The program operates across six locations in the United Kingdom and brings together charities, businesses, local authorities, housing providers, and community organizations.
According to reports, the initiative has invested £1.9 million ($2.56 million) across participating locations while leveraging an additional £3.5 million ($4.7 million) through grants and private philanthropy.
William has repeatedly argued that homelessness is not inevitable. His Homewards campaign focuses on prevention as much as emergency support, aiming to address the underlying factors that push people into housing insecurity in the first place.
