Prince Harry is one of many royals who attended Eton College – but it seems his son, Prince Archie, won’t follow in his footsteps.
From not fitting in to trying drugs for the first time there, here’s an inside look at the Duke of Sussex‘s time at the historic school.
Prince Harry started at Eton College in 1998 (Credit: Shutterstock)
Prince Harry and Eton
In 1998, Harry joined his big brother, Prince William, in attending Eton College in Berkshire.
The world-famous school has seen prime ministers, royals, actors, and sportsmen study there over the five centuries it’s been open.
It’s not a cheap school to go to either, with annual costs of around £63,000 ($85,000).
The college features labs, libraries, swimming pools, cricket pitches, and tennis courts.
So it may come as a surprise that despite everything that it had to offer, Prince Harry didn’t really enjoy his time there all that much.
The duke has previously opened up about struggling to fit in at the college, and how he struggled in his studies.
Harry was into his sports at Eton (Credit: David Bebber / Shutterstock)
Struggling to fit in
Speaking to 60 Minutes Australia back in 2023, Harry revealed how he was left to figure the school out on his own when brother William reportedly told him to act as if they didn’t know each other while there.
“At the time, it hurt,” he said. “I couldn’t make sense of it. I was like, ‘What do you mean? We’re now at the same school.’ He said, ‘When we’re at school, we don’t know each other.’”
Harry admitted that he took it personally at the time, however, he acknowledged that such behaviour is typical of older siblings who are trying to establish independence.
Harry admitted in his book, Spare, that he didn’t enjoy his studies, and found sport to be more his thing at Eton.
‘Rugby let me indulge my rage’
“Sport, I decided, would be my thing at Eton,” he said. He explained that there were “dry bobs”, those who played land sports such as football and rugby, and “wet bobs”, those who took part in water-based sports, such as rowing or swimming.
“I was a dry who occasionally got wet. I played every dry sport, though rugby captured my heart,” he explained.
The duke explained that rugby was a place for emotional release. “Rugby let me indulge my rage. I simply didn’t feel pain the way other boys did, which made me scary on a pitch,” he said.
Harry tried drugs for the first time at the college (Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock)
Prince Harry on trying drugs for the first time at Eton
In his 2023 book, Spare, Harry confessed to having smoked weed for the first time while at Eton.
He wrote about how he and his mates would smoke weed in the toilets. They reportedly each took a turn to take a drag near the window.
“I don’t remember how we got the stuff. One of my mates, I expect,” he wrote.
“Or maybe several. Whenever we found ourselves in possession, we’d commandeer a tiny upstairs bathroom, wherein we’d implement a surprisingly thoughtful, orderly assembly line. Smoker straddled the loo beside the window, second boy leaned against the basin, third and fourth boys sat in the empty bath, legs dangling over, waiting their turns,” he continued.
“You’d take a hit or two, blow the smoke out of the window, then move on to the next station, in rotation, until the spliff was gone. Then we’d all head to one of our rooms and giggle ourselves sick over an episode or two of a new show. Family Guy. I felt an inexplicable bond with Stewie, prophet without honour,” he then added.
Prince William’s experience at Eton
Harry’s experience at Eton college seems to be bit of a contrast to that of his older brother.
In his book, Spare, Harry explained that for the first two years of William’s time at Eton, the school “had been a sanctuary”.
The Prince of Wales did well in his studies, gaining 12 GCSEs, as well as an A, B, and C in his A-Levels.
During his final year at the school, he was elected a prefect, alongside 20 other boys.
“Maybe Harry will move back too”(Credit: CoverImages.com)
Harry gushes over UK education
Recent reports claimed that Prince Harry had already signed his son Prince Archie up to attend Eton College. This is despite Archie only being six, and currently living in the US.
It was claimed that Harry wants his children to have their education in the UK.
The claims came from singer Joss Stone. She said she’d spoken to Harry at an event during his recent trip to the UK.
“He also asked about how we were settling back in and was genuinely interested in our move home. He’s just very warm and down to earth, as always,” she said, according to HELLO!.
Will Archie go to Eton?
“Maybe Harry will move back too. That would be nice. He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children. It was nice to share that with him because it’s exactly why we felt drawn to come back – for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends and a strong sense of belonging and most importantly in a safe environment.”
Her comments sparked speculation that Harry wants Archie to attend Eton.
However, a spokesperson for the duke denied the claims.
“Prince Harry has not put his son’s name down for Eton, nor does he have any plans to do so,” they said.
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