Why Prince George’s Eton years will be far tougher than they were for dad Prince William

Prince George is set to begin his education at Prince William’s alma mater, Eton College, but the young royal — who turns 13 on July 22 — is likely to face a far more difficult experience than his father did, according to a royal expert. “The biggest challenge won’t be academics or making friends. It’ll be balancing Prince George’s privacy with the reality that every classmate has TikTok,” royal commentator Kinsey Schofield exclusively told Page Six Tuesday. “William and [his brother] Harry attended before social media transformed adolescence,” she continued. “George won’t have that luxury.” Prince George (seen here with Prince William in 2022) will face more challenges at Eton College than his dad experienced, Kinsey Schofield told Page Six. WireImage George is set to attend the prestigious school (seen above in a photo from 1962) in the fall. Getty Images Schofield explained the hurdle with George’s security isn’t just about “physical protection” anymore. “It’s protecting his privacy in an age where something can go viral in seconds,” she said. The “R is for Revenge Dress” author believes the threat landscape has “changed dramatically” since William was a student. “The risks today aren’t just about someone physically approaching the future king,” Schofield said. “Digital exposure, drones, social media, and the speed at which information spreads all complicate the security picture. “That means Prince George’s protection will almost certainly be more sophisticated,” she continued, “even if it’s designed to remain largely invisible.” William and Kate Middleton’s eldest son’s security will likely be “robust behind the scenes,” Schofield said. “The risks today aren’t just about someone physically approaching the future king,” the royal expert said while comparing William and George (seen above on July 12). BACKGRID George (seen here with William on July 12) must deal with the challenges of social media. WireImage “But I suspect every effort will be made to ensure his peers aren’t constantly reminded they’re standing next to a future king,” she said. “When Prince William attended Eton, his protection officers dressed in plain clothes and blended into the background.” “That philosophy of being seen as little as possible is probably even more important today because teenagers are already growing up under the microscope of social media,” she added. Schofield alleged that the royal household has spent decades trying to strike the “impossible balance” between “protecting an heir to the throne” and “allowing him enough freedom to develop confidence.” “Prince William understands that confidence comes from navigating the world, making friends, and solving problems independently. George’s security will exist to facilitate that, not prevent it,” she said. The royal author said George’s family (seen here in April) tries to strike an “impossible balance” between protecting George and allowing him freedom. Getty Images George previously attended Lambrook School with his younger siblings, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte (seen here with their parents in 2023). Getty Images Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! Schofield believes William wants George to have a “sense of normalcy” at school. Fortunately for George, he has a leg up with his dad being an Eton grad. “If there’s one advantage George has that William didn’t, it’s that his father has already lived this exact experience,” Schofield said. “William knows where the pressure points are. He understands the social dynamics, the academic expectations and the emotional challenges.” “I suspect William has spent years thinking about what worked, what didn’t, and how to give his son as much independence as possible while still protecting him,” she added. William (seen here at Eton College in the ’90s) knows the ins and outs of his alma matter, according to Schofield. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images William (seen here at Eton) attended the boarding school from 1995 to 2000. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images George, who officially becomes a teenager when he celebrates his 13th birthday Wednesday, is expected to start classes at Eton this fall. He previously attended Lambrook School with his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8. William, 44, attended Eton from 1995 to 2000. He then took a gap year before attending university at St. Andrews in Scotland, graduating in June 2005 with a Master of Arts in geography. It was at St. Andrews that William met his future wife, Kate Middleton, whom he married in 2011 and with whom he shares George, Charlotte and Louis. Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will/might be rejected if it contains: Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice: Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk So, how can you be a power user? Stay on topic and share your passion. 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