Harry’s fears of being ‘overshadowed’ by his brother’s children are beginning to come true with the huge interest in George’s schooling – THIS is where I believe William and Catherine will send the young prince, ANDREW MORTON tells Palace Confidential
George’s transformation into ‘every inch a very handsome young man’ continually confirms Prince Harry’s long-held fears that he will one day be eclipsed by the children of his brother, the royal biographer. Andrew Morton told the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential.
Morton, author of the landmark 1992 biography Diana: Her True Story, suggested that the fervent interest in George’s education was a sign of things to come, with William’s children on the rise and Harry’s star quietly waning.
Speaking to Editor-in-Chief Richard Kay, Morton also weighed in on where the Welsh family believes they will send the young prince to secondary school.
While not disparaging family favorite Eton, the royal biographer said co-educational Oundle in Northamptonshire would “fit the bill” as it would allow Princess Charlotte to one day follow her brother through its gates.
Andrew Morton said George had developed into “every inch a very handsome young man”, constantly confirming Harry’s fears that he would one day be eclipsed by his brother’s children.
Morton suggested that the intense interest in George’s education was a sign of things to come, with William’s children on the rise and Harry’s star quietly waning.
“The thing that always worried Prince Harry, that he would be overshadowed by his brother’s children, is coming true,” Morton said.
‘George looks every inch a very handsome young man and now the big debate is: Where will they send him to school?
‘My guess is Oundle. They were already there to look around. Maybe this will be Charlotte’s school too.
‘They may decide to send all three to the same school and a mixed private school would also suit this purpose.’
While Kay acknowledged the £59,000-a-year school could work for the future King, he raised the ‘area of difficulty’ that sending George to a mixed secondary school could present.
Although he has had a Royal Charter since 1930, Oundle has never had a royal pupil. If George attends, he would be the first male heir to the British throne to attend a co-educational secondary school.
Kay argued: ‘An all-boys school would avoid awkward opportunities like someone taking his picture, perhaps kissing a girl for the first time, and the burst of attention that would generate.
‘Another thing to remember is that the Welsh literally live on top of Eton College. It was also where William went to school. ‘He had very happy school days there.’
While Morton did not rule out family favorite Eton for George’s education, he said co-educational Oundle in Northamptonshire ‘fit the bill’
Morton argued that William had long described himself as a modern, progressive, doing-things-different royal, and that co-educational Oundle may have had a particular appeal for the future King.
Morton said although Eton was probably still in the race, William had long described himself as a modern, progressive royal who did things differently, and co-educational Oundle could have particular appeal for a future King with one eye on the changing monarchy.
‘It is clear that Eton is certainly in the race,’ the royal biographer said.
‘But one of the things you notice about William is that he doesn’t exactly follow the structure of the Royal Family and those traditions.
‘He may go somewhere very different from his education.’
Listen to Richard Kay’s full interview with Andrew Morton by subscribing to Palace Confidential on YouTube.
