Princess Catherine Admits She Misses Prince George as New Details of His Life at Eton Emerge

Prince George has grown up surrounded by royal comforts, but his move to Eton College has brought a different way of life. Now, Princess Catherine has admitted how much she misses her eldest son.

The Princess of Wales shared her feelings as George's first extended autumn break approaches. Meanwhile, footage from inside Eton offers a closer look at the bedrooms, shared spaces, and school environment he is adjusting to.

From Royal Residences to a New Life at Eton

Prince George has grown up surrounded by royal traditions, historic residences, and public attention. According to a 2014 report by Vanity Fair, his early childhood included time at Kensington Palace, where Prince William and Catherine moved into a 21-room apartment that had undergone a major refurbishment.

Catherine helped design George's nursery, choosing a neutral color scheme and a white Beatrix Potter-themed crib. The family also spent time at Catherine's parents' home in Berkshire, where George stayed during his first weeks after birth.

Despite his royal position, William and Catherine sought to give their eldest son a private family upbringing. The magazine reported that they limited his public appearances and spent time with him away from the media spotlight.

That family life has since entered a new phase, with George spending much of his first term at Eton away from home.

Princess Catherine Opens Up About Missing George

Catherine, 44, spoke about George during a visit to Café 98 in Hoveton, Norfolk, on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

The Princess of Wales was visiting the charity shop as patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) when a conversation with shoppers turned to her family.

George, 13, started at Eton in Septemer. His move marked the beginning of full-time boarding, a change from his previous school arrangements.

Denise Ashton, 68, later told reporters about her conversation with Catherine, according to HELLO! Magazine.

"She said she's looking forward to George coming home - she's missed him," Ashton said. George's new schedule means spending much of the school term away from William, Catherine, and his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Prince George's First Term at Eton Brings New Responsibilities

George previously attended Lambrook School, where he experienced part-time boarding. At Eton, he must follow school schedules, meet academic expectations, and take greater responsibility for his work.

Eton's prospectus describes an approach that encourages boys to develop independence while receiving support from school staff.

Each student has a House Master and a personal Tutor to provide guidance with schoolwork and study habits. Students begin with a broad first-year curriculum before choosing subjects as they progress through the school.

Eton's expectations also extend to punctuality and the standard of work submitted in class.

According to HELLO! Magazine, the school uses disciplinary marks known as "rips" when students produce work that falls below the required standard. The practice involves removing the top of a page.

Beyond the classroom, Eton's boarding arrangements place responsibility on students to organize their belongings, manage deadlines, and maintain their personal spaces.

The school's approach to independence is also reflected in the accommodation provided to its students.

A Look Inside Eton Shows How Boarding Students Live

A video shared in September 2018 offers a rare glimpse inside Eton College, revealing its student accommodations and shared facilities.

Inside one bedroom, a single bed with white bedding stands beside a wooden desk and a black office chair. Blue curtains frame the window, while photographs and personal notes fill a noticeboard above the bed.

The modest bedroom reflects Eton's approach to independent living. According to the school's prospectus, "From the very beginning, each boy has his own study-bedroom: there are no shared rooms."

Students are also encouraged to organize their belongings and meet deadlines, with guidance from school staff.

Several students gather in a traditionally furnished lounge, where a brown sofa sits near a fireplace surrounded by framed pictures. Some hold plates of food, while others sit reading.

The scene captures an everyday moment inside Eton, with students occupying a shared living space beyond their individual bedrooms.

Swimmers can be seen in an indoor pool with marked lanes, while swimming equipment lines the surrounding deck. The facility offers a look at another side of Eton, where sports and recreation form part of the wider school environment.

Rows of red tiered seats dominate the large hall, where students gather around tables and chairs arranged on the open floor. Some are seated while others stand nearby, creating a busy scene that contrasts with the quieter bedrooms and lounges shown earlier.

The auditorium-style space offers a closer look at Eton's facilities for larger gatherings, with its expansive seating area and open floor accommodating group activities.

Catherine's Norfolk Conversation Included a Hint About Family Plans

During the Norfolk visit, Ashton shared another detail from her conversation with Catherine. "They may be going somewhere [during the break]," she told reporters.

Catherine also spoke with a young child who mentioned that school was finishing for the half-term holiday. The princess responded with a detail about her own children's schedule.

"My children break up tomorrow and I can't wait to have them all home," she said, according to HELLO! Magazine.

Eton's October Holiday Explains Prince George's Return Home

According to Eton's official term dates, the school's Michaelmas term Long Leave begins on October 23 and ends on November 8, 2026.

The scheduled holiday gives boarding students more than two weeks away from their usual school routine. For George, the break provides an opportunity to return home and spend time with William, Catherine, Charlotte, and Louis.

Eton also scheduled an earlier Short Leave from October 2 to October 4, allowing students time away earlier in the term. However, it has not been confirmed whether George returned home during that weekend.

The October break runs through November 8, giving George an opportunity to spend time with his parents and younger siblings before returning to his school routine.

George's upcoming return home comes just weeks after another major milestone: his first day at Eton, when William and Catherine accompanied him to the school. In a previous report, photographs from that day showed how much the young prince had grown and captured the family's arrival at the historic college.

George began his education at Eton College on September 8, 2026, accompanied by his parents. The first photographs showed George arriving in a dark navy suit, white shirt, and patterned navy tie.

Later, William and Catherine shared three formal portraits of their eldest son on their official Instagram account with the caption, "George's first day at Eton."

The school already has strong ties to his family. CNN reported that William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, both attended Eton.

William started at Eton in September 1995, when photographs showed him arriving with his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales; his father, King Charles III; and younger brother, Harry. In 1998, Harry followed him to Eton.

According to People, other royals who studied there include Prince Edward, Duke of Kent; Prince Michael of Kent; and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Eton's own history stretches back nearly six centuries. The school's official history says Henry VI founded it in 1440 as "Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore."

Its original foundation provided housing and education for 70 boys known as King's Scholars, while other pupils, known as Oppidans, paid for their accommodation. Eton now has 24 boarding houses in addition to College, where King's Scholars live, and since 2002, applicants have earned places through interviews, tests, and references.

George's arrival was a more personal scene. The young royal smiled as he walked between his parents in the rain, at one point turning toward William during a lighthearted moment.

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were not seen with William and Catherine in the photographs. The images showed the couple accompanying George as he entered the school.

Catherine wore a dark green, long-sleeved midi dress with a fitted waist and flared skirt and carried a large black umbrella with a curved wooden handle. William wore a dark suit, a striped shirt with a blue tie, and carried a closed umbrella.

The family crossed School Yard, Eton's cobblestoned quadrangle, where a statue of the founder stands. Principal Simon Henderson and provost Nicholas Coleridge met them there and spoke with the family for several minutes.

The principal welcomed George with a few words: "Welcome, good luck, enjoy it."

After arriving in a suit, George changed into Eton's formal school uniform: a black tailcoat over a fitted black waistcoat and white shirt, paired with a stiff white collar, dark pinstriped trousers, and polished black shoes. His light brown hair was swept neatly to one side.

In one portrait, he beamed at the camera with his hands tucked into his pockets. In another, he stood beneath a stone archway with his hands clasped in front of him.

The portraits made George's more mature appearance especially noticeable.

On Facebook, one user wrote, "Oh goodness George is a Middleton, strongly with his mother's features and coloring. Don't see anything of William. But maybe over time that will change."

Another commenter made the same comparison more playfully: "Did William's genes even try?" A third user focused on his demeanor, writing, "I see a huge confidence difference between the two. Different times back then."

Another simply remarked, "Very handsome and intelligent." In another discussion, attention turned to the family photographs. One user asked, "William couldn't hold the umbrella?"

Another was struck by George's height beside Catherine: "Bet he's taller than his Mum when she isn't in heels now! Beautiful photos of them. Best of luck to George. Wonder if he'll behave like his Dad or like his uncle Harry did at school. 😆"

A separate commenter made an even more direct comparison with William: "He's almost as tall as his father!" Someone else returned to the rainy arrival, writing, "She had to hold her own umbrella!"

Catherine's expression then prompted a different reaction.

On the same platform, one observer wrote, "Mom has the look of a concerned mom." A different person offered a different reading of the moment: "Mum and Dad so proud."

The reactions to George continued on Instagram, where his formal portraits prompted comments about his increasingly mature appearance.

One royal watcher wrote, "He is most handsome prince in Europe ! 😁😁🤭 [sic]" Another remarked, "A handsome and charming young man. He looks very poised and mature 😍👍💯🔥."

A different supporter saw a resemblance to his late great-grandmother, writing, "What a handsome young man.. Bdw, his teeth is like the late queen Elizabeth [sic]."

The photographs also offered a reminder of how quickly the years have passed for a prince the public has watched grow up. Now 13, George arrived at Eton with his parents, looking noticeably older in the formal portraits that prompted comments about his increasingly mature appearance.

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With the first-day photographs behind him, Prince George now turns to life at Eton and the experiences that will shape the years ahead.