From Eton to Le Rosey: where the royal elite go to school

It costs around €76,000 per year, and a smartphone is not included: Prince George started at Eton College last week. He follows in the footsteps of his father and uncle. Which other prestigious schools prove popular within royal circles?

Eton College

On 8 September, thirteen-year-old Prince George arrived at Eton College for his first day, accompanied by Prince William and Catherine. The future king is literally following in his father's footsteps, who studied there between 1995 and 2000. Prince Harry also attended Eton.

The school in Berkshire was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI and is now considered one of the world's most prestigious boarding schools. For 2026/27, tuition is £21,891 per term. With three terms, that amounts to £65,673, or approximately €76,600 per year. Additional costs for music lessons, excursions and other activities may apply.

Ancient traditions do not mean Eton lacks modern rules. In fact, the school is strict on digital matters: first-year students are not permitted to use smartphones. They receive a basic Nokia for calls and messages, and an iPad for schoolwork. The traditional black tailcoat remains part of daily life.

Gordonstoun

While Eton is now closely associated with William and George, Gordonstoun was the school of the British royal family for decades. Prince Philip arrived there in 1934 as a thirteen-year-old student and became deeply connected to the educational philosophy of founder Kurt Hahn. Later, his three sons Charles, Andrew and Edward also attended. Princess Anne could not attend at the time because Gordonstoun admitted only boys, but her children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall later studied at the Scottish boarding school.

Gordonstoun has a distinctly different character from Eton. The school sits on approximately 81 hectares in northern Scotland and emphasizes outdoor education, sailing, expeditions and community service. King Charles remained connected to the school and became patron of the Gordonstoun Association in 2024.

Royal education comes with a substantial price tag. A boarding place in the Senior School costs £21,365 per term in 2026/27, or £64,095 per year. That is approximately €74,800.

UWC Atlantic

A castle on the Welsh coast has become something of a gathering place for European heirs to the throne. UWC Atlantic, located at St Donat's Castle, educated King Willem-Alexander, among others. He completed his International Baccalaureate there in 1985. His daughter Princess Alexia followed the same path years later and completed her studies there in 2023.

The Netherlands is far from alone in this. Belgian Crown Princess Elisabeth earned her diploma at UWC Atlantic in 2020, and Spanish Crown Princess Leonor also studied there. UWC Atlantic has become one of the most notable meeting places for young European royals.

Yet UWC fits less easily into the classical image of an elite school. Selection, international diversity and financial support are core elements of the UWC model. For students entering through the Global Selection Programme without financial aid, the current price range for the full two-year programme is around $150,000 to $165,000. That amounts to roughly €65,000 to €72,000 per year.

Institut Le Rosey

Then there is Switzerland. Institut Le Rosey has held an almost mythical reputation among royal and wealthy families for more than a century. Former students include King Albert II and King Baudouin of Belgium, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the Shah of Iran, and members of various other European and international royal families.

The school itself operates unconventionally. Le Rosey was founded in 1880 and has two campuses. Most of the school year takes place in Rolle on Lake Geneva, and during winter the school community moves to Gstaad, the exclusive ski resort in the Swiss Alps.

This lifestyle makes Le Rosey by far the most expensive school in this group. For the 2026/27 school year, tuition and boarding fees are CHF 159,600, approximately €169,000 per year. Simply to secure a place after admission, the school requires an initial payment of CHF 68,200, which includes the first term and a deposit.