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Before the Princess of Wales was hospitalized and MIA for almost two full months, there was a long-running story in the British media about Kate’s refusal to send Prince George to Eton. It’s not that Kate has an aversion to Eton specifically, she’s just anti-same-sex education and anti-boarding school. In the past year, she was apparently visiting other schools which George could potentially attend in a few years, when he turns 13. One of her favorite choices was her alma mater, Marlborough, which is co-ed and part-boarding school and part “day school.” As in, kids just attend like a normal school and go home every afternoon, but some kids board. One of the last times we heard about this Wales debate was in a story from In Touch, in which Kate reportedly “gave in” to William’s demands that George attend Eton, his alma mater. But not so fast – apparently, Kate is well enough to still have opinions on all of this (??), and she’s now considering a different co-ed school.
As the Prince and Princess of Wales ruminate over the difficult choice of where to send the future King to secondary school, a new institution is reportedly in the running. The Mail on Sunday reported this weekend that Kate, 42, and William, 41, have listed the prestigious Oundle School among their top choices for their eldest son, 11, who will be leaving primary school this summer.
It comes amid reports Kate’s alma mater, Marlborough School in Buckinghamshire, where fees are £47,000-per-year, runs the risk of being ‘flashy’ with a source revealing the Princess of Wales’s style is ‘understated wealth’.
In contrast, Oundle School in north Northamptonshire claims to help shape its pupils into ‘decent’, ‘open-minded’ and ‘ambitious’ adults – but never ‘arrogant’. The institution, founded in 1556, boasts that pupils, known as Oundelians, ‘share the town of Oundle’ with residents as its buildings are scattered around the area in an open campus which includes a chapel and a cricket ground.
School fees at Oundle for full-time boarders are £34,515 per year for Year 7, but the fee rises to £45,435 from Years 9 to 13. Fees for day pupils at Year 7 are £22,350 per year, rising to £29,370 for Years 9-13.
Although Prince William and Prince Harry were both educated at Eton College, just a short distance from Windsor Castle, it has not been confirmed if Prince George will follow in his father and uncle’s footsteps. He has also been linked with his mother Kate’s former school, Marlborough College, where Pippa and James Middleton were also educated. The Mail on Sunday reported George has already been allocated a ‘house’ in a safe location and given a housemaster at the school if he does eventually attend.
But there is said to be concern that Marlborough has become ‘too flashy’ after a rise in its popularity with ultra-rich families due to its association with the Middletons.
‘The 2024 version of Marlborough may be quite different from how Kate remembers it,’ a source said. ‘It’s become a little more jet-set. Lots of parents have villas in Ibiza, chalets in Verbier or a private jet, which isn’t Kate’s style. She prefers understated wealth.’
They added: ‘Kate wants a school that suits all of her children and keeps them grounded.’
LMAO at “She prefers understated wealth.” I shouldn’t comment, but no, Kate is not all about understated wealth. I realize that rich folks in Britain prefer to act like they have no money, but “acting poor” is only a thing when you actually have money. Besides, everything about Kate and the Middletons screams “pretending to be nouveau riche.” The Middletons couldn’t even keep up the nouveau riche appearances without their house of cards collapsing though. I would also guess that Marlborough was always a school which appealed to flashy rich families, which is probably why the Middletons sent Kate there, so she could learn how to social climb. Anyway, I doubt anyone is seriously considering Oundle – George will end up going to Eton, I can pretty much guarantee that. It will be interesting to see where Charlotte and Louis end up going though.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – MAY 07: (L-R) Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Eugenie, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince George of Wales during the Coronation Concert on May 07, 2023 in Windsor, England. The Windsor Castle Concert is part of the celebrations of the Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms that took place at Westminster Abbey yesterday. High-profile performers will entertain members of the royal family and 20,000 guests including 10,000 members of the public.,Image: 774495357, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Leon Neal / Avalon
(L-R) Britain’s Prince George of Wales, Britain’s Prince Louis of Wales and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales toast marshmallows as they take part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, west of London on May 8, 2023, where the family joined volunteers helping to renovate and improve the building. – People across Britain were on Monday asked to do their duty as the celebrations for King Charles III’s coronation drew to a close with a massive volunteering drive.,Image: 774584280, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: DANIEL LEAL / Avalon
Watched by Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales (centre right) and Britain’s Prince George of Wales (R), Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, tries her hand at archery while taking part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, west of London on May 8, 2023, where the family joined volunteers helping to renovate and improve the building. – People across Britain were on Monday asked to do their duty as the celebrations for King Charles III’s coronation drew to a close with a massive volunteering drive.,Image: 774584555, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: DANIEL LEAL / Avalon
Copyright in the photograph is vested in The Prince and Princess of Wales. Publications are asked to credit the photograph to Josh Shinner. The photograph shall be solely used for news editorial purposes only. It shall not be approved for souvenirs, or memorabilia; or anything colourably similar. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photograph (including by way of example only) any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non news editorial use. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. The photograph shall not be used after 31st December 2024 without prior
permission from Kensington Palace. Any questions relating to the use of the photograph should be first referred to
Kensington Palace and before publication.
Undated handout photo issued by Kensington Palace of the Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The photograph, which features on their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year, was taken by the photographer Josh Shinner earlier this year and shows The Prince and Princess with their three children in Windsor.
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.,Image: 828291451, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Josh Shinner/Kensington Palace / Avalon
Prince George, Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales toast marshmallows as they join volunteers to help renovate and improve the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, as part of the Big Help Out, to mark the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Featuring: Prince George, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: Slough, United Kingdom
When: 07 May 2023
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
British Royals helping to renovate and improve the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, as part of the Big Help Out, to mark the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
Where: Slough, United Kingdom
When: 07 May 2023
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
British Royals helping to renovate and improve the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, as part of the Big Help Out, to mark the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Featuring: Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
Where: Slough, United Kingdom
When: 07 May 2023
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Traveling along The Mall in a carriage at Trooping The Colour.
Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 17 Jun 2023
Credit: PPE/Nieboer/DDP/INSTARimages
**USA RIGHTS ONLY**
