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One day, Prince George is expected to become King of the United Kingdom. But for now, inside the walls of Eton College, he is simply another first-year pupil. After arriving at the famous school just one month ago, the 13-year-old has already discovered that royal status does not come with special privileges in the classroom. The rules apply to everyone, including the future king.
And one of those rules may be especially difficult for a teenager growing up in the digital age: no personal smartphone.
George began his Eton journey on September 8, arriving with his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. The family crossed the historic schoolyard, passing the statue of King Henry VI, who founded Eton in 1440. Waiting to greet them were headmaster Simon Henderson and Provost Sir Nicholas Cridge. George was welcomed warmly, but after that brief public moment, the cameras were kept away.
That privacy appears to be exactly what William and Catherine want. Their son has already spent years in the public eye, but his parents have consistently tried to protect his private childhood and education.
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Before Eton, George attended Thomas's Battersea in London before moving to Lambrook, the preparatory school near Windsor. He turned 13 on July 22, and his move to Eton marked a major new chapter.
Eton is hardly an ordinary school. Around 1,300 boys study there, and its alumni include numerous prominent political and public figures, including 20 British prime ministers. George is also following a family tradition. His father studied there, as did his uncle, Prince Harry.
The boys live in boarding houses, generally in groups of around 50, and eventually become accustomed to the school's famous formal traditions and distinctive dress. Yet despite its history and royal connections, Eton's rules are designed to make sure that George experiences school much like the boys around him.
That became particularly clear with the school's approach to technology.
First-year boys, known at Eton as F Block, are not permitted to keep their own smartphones. Instead, the school provides them with a basic mobile phone capable of making calls and sending text messages. There is no social media, gaming, or unrestricted internet access.
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For teenagers accustomed to carrying powerful smartphones everywhere, that can feel like a dramatic change.
The policy was introduced to encourage students to focus more closely on school life. According to reports, an earlier version of the scheme was associated with a significant reduction in detentions and truancy. But Eton has now tightened the restrictions further.
The boys can still use school-provided iPads during lessons, but access to the wider internet is restricted through a controlled browser and a limited list of websites approved by teachers, known at Eton as beaks.
The changes reportedly followed concerns from more than 100 parents who contacted the Provost in late 2024. They complained that students were using their school devices for gaming during lessons and at times when they should have been completing homework.
The school responded by strengthening its digital controls. First-year pupils already had to surrender their devices overnight, and additional restrictions have now been introduced around weekend use.
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And Prince George is included in every part of the policy.
There is no special digital pass for the future king. No exception because his name is Windsor. No exemption because one day he could occupy the throne.
For William and Catherine, that may actually be the point.
Their approach to their children's upbringing has often emphasized giving George, Charlotte and Louis as much normality as possible despite their extraordinary position. At Eton, George has to live under the same rules as the boy in the room next door.
His younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, remain at Lambrook, meaning George is currently the only Wales child at Eton.
But his arrival also creates a fascinating connection with his father's past.
Prince William entered Eton in 1995 and remained there until 2000. He lived at Manor House, participated in swimming and water polo, and became involved in the school's senior traditions. His academic results included an A in geography, a B in history of art and a C in biology.
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Harry later followed his brother to Eton, arriving in 1998. He lived in the same house and was known for his enthusiasm for sport and the cadet force, although he later acknowledged that academic study was more challenging for him.
William's own first day at Eton, however, took place during an extraordinarily difficult period for his family.
On September 6, 1995, the young prince arrived at the school with his father, Charles, his mother, Diana, and his younger brother Harry. Charles and Diana had already been separated for several years, and the following months would bring one of the most turbulent periods of their relationship.
Yet on that particular day, they stood together for their son.
There was another remarkable feature of William's Eton experience: an understanding between the royal family and the British press. The media would receive occasional photographs and updates, but in exchange, William would largely be allowed to live as a schoolboy away from constant scrutiny.
The principle was simple. William was not a public institution or entertainment figure. He was a child.
For the most part, that arrangement worked. William was able to spend his teenage years at Eton without being followed by cameras every day.
He also had another extraordinary advantage. Windsor Castle stood just across the River Thames. At weekends, William could reportedly visit his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and enjoy quiet Sunday teas with her. Those private moments were later viewed as an important part of his preparation for royal life.
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