Prince George's school announcement is being tipped to be handled with "little fanfare" to ensure his privacy, according to a commentator.
The 12-year-old faces a significant milestone as he prepares to begin secondary education in September 2026, marking the end of his time at Lambrook School in Berkshire, where he currently studies alongside siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The young royal's parents are reportedly considering two prestigious institutions for his next academic chapter.
Eton College in Windsor, the all-boys establishment attended by both Prince William and Prince Harry, stands as one option.
Prince George school announcement tipped to be handled with ‘little fanfare’
|RYAN JENKINSON / KENSINGTON PALACE
The alternative is Marlborough College in Berkshire, a co-educational institution where the Princess of Wales completed her own secondary education.
Both schools represent markedly different educational environments for the future king's formative years.
Royal watchers anticipating an imminent announcement about Prince George's educational future may face a lengthy wait, according to a commentator.
Melanie Sanderson, Managing Editor of The Good Schools Guide, claimed: "If the Wales family runs true to form, they will announce Prince George's secondary school at the eleventh hour, possibly as late as September 2026.
Lambrook School is where George, Charlotte and Louis attend | PA"They understand that the school itself, as well as George's new peer group, will fall under intense scrutiny as soon as it is revealed and will probably want to minimise this, allowing the young royal to transition to his new school with as little fanfare as possible."
Ms Sanderson claimed that the couple recognise how their choice will trigger intense media attention focused on both the selected institution and George's prospective peers.
By minimising the announcement window, the royal parents would ensure their eldest child experiences a smoother adjustment to his new academic environment without excessive public scrutiny.
The royal couple's tendency towards last-minute educational announcements follows an established pattern.
Buildings and playing fields of Eton College, Berkshire, England | GETTYTheir 2022 decision to enrol all three children at Lambrook School was revealed merely two weeks before the autumn term began.
A Palace statement at that time expressed gratitude to Thomas's Battersea, where George and Charlotte had previously studied, whilst confirming the family's educational transition.
Historical precedent extends further back. George's nursery attendance at Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk was disclosed in December 2015, just one month before his January 2016 start date.
Prince William's own Eton enrolment followed similar timing, with King Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, confirming the decision in June 1995, three months before the September term.
Prince William on his first day at Eton in 1995 | PAThe exception to this pattern occurred with Thomas's Battersea, where the announcement came six months before George's Reception year began in 2017, generating considerable media attention around the London institution.
Ms Sanderson believes Eton represents the most probable choice for the young prince. She continued to tell Hello!: "I believe Eton is the most likely choice for Prince George."
The commentator cited the school's recent review description as "traditional, radical, expectation-busting and packed with confident boys with nary a hint of entitlement".
She suggested these characteristics align with the principles valued by the Waleses, making the Windsor institution particularly suitable for the future monarch's education.