Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children have returned to Windsor from Balmoral following a Scottish holiday that coincided with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relocation announcement, setting the stage for Prince George’s upcoming first year of boarding school at Eton College.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 44, departed the Scottish Highlands via a commercial flight alongside Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8, concluding their summer break at the royal family’s Balmoral estate. Their departure marks an immediate shift into a demanding autumn schedule as all three children prepare for the new academic term.
While Charlotte and Louis return to Lambrook School, the eldest prince faces a major personal transition. Kensington Palace confirmed back in June that George will enroll as a boarding student at Eton College, sitting within sight of Windsor Castle, allowing the young royal to return home easily during term time.
Balmoral Services and Family Departures
The Wales family arrived in Scotland on Thursday, August 20, 2026, joining other senior royals for Sunday services at Crathie Kirk, the parish church near Balmoral Castle. King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne alongside Sir Timothy Laurence, and Prince Edward with Lady Louise Windsor were all spotted attending the services on August 23.
Their stay in the Scottish Highlands unfolded against a backdrop of wider royal developments. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet landed in the U.K. on Wednesday, August 26, after flying privately from California to Birmingham, England. The Sussex family plans to establish a private, non-royal home base in Britain, with Archie and Lilibet also scheduled to begin school in September.
Eton College Preparations and Security Measures
Preparations at Eton College are already underway to safeguard the privacy of the incoming student body. Fresh “No photography” signs have been installed on the fences surrounding the school grounds to prevent media and public intrusion.
The security approach mirrors arrangements made when Prince William attended the institution. During William’s student years, an agreement with the press granted organized photo opportunities on the strict condition that he was otherwise left undisturbed throughout his education. A comparable arrangement is anticipated for Prince George as he steps into his role as a future king.
The choice of Eton carries deep family precedent, though not without complex history. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE following the June announcement that Eton was a much-needed haven for William,
adding that It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role.
“George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.”
A source close to the family, via Yahoo
Reflecting on Eton’s Past Tensions
While William found sanctuary within Eton’s walls, the institution was a source of friction between the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry during their youth. In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry described starting at the boarding school three years behind his brother as a profound shock.
Harry wrote that William requested that he pretend I didn’t know him
upon arriving at the school, explaining that his older sibling was fiercely protecting his established sanctuary. Relations between the brothers remain deeply strained with no active contact, though Harry’s recent return to Britain follows a June 10 meeting with King Charles at Highgrove, marking the monarch’s first reunion with Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet in four years.
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