Prince George at Eton College: The School Rules and Bizarre Traditions He'll Have To Follow

Prince George has begun life at Eton College, but becoming a pupil at the Berkshire boarding school means more than putting on its famous tailcoat. At 13, the future king is entering a school where centuries-old customs shape daily life, from strict School Dress and unusual terminology to the colours test and the bizarre Wall Game.

George arrived at Eton on 8 September with Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, marking a new chapter after leaving Lambrook School. He follows his father and uncle, Prince Harry, who both attended the school.

Founded by King Henry VI in 1440, Eton has 25 boarding houses, with boys living under the care of House Masters and Dames. Every pupil has a room of their own, with House Masters, Dames and tutors providing pastoral support.

As a pupil, George will encounter Eton's established dress requirements, routines, terminology and traditions, regardless of his position as a future king.

The Strict Dress Code Prince George Must Follow

Eton's formal uniform is known as School Dress, commonly called 'tails'. It consists of a black tailcoat, waistcoat and pinstriped trousers, worn with a stiff white collar.

The school also has dress distinctions linked to seniority. Pupils with certain senior roles can wear 'stick ups', including a wing collar with a white bow tie, marking their position within the school.

School Dress is therefore more than a ceremonial outfit for George. It forms part of Eton's established expectations for pupils and is one of the most recognisable aspects of school life.

The Bizarre Colours Test Facing New Pupils

One of Eton's most unusual traditions is the 'colours test'. Accounts from Eton alumni describe new pupils learning the colours associated with the school's 25 boarding houses, as well as the locations of buildings around the campus.

For newcomers, the exercise provides an early challenge in becoming familiar with Eton's unusually complex house system and surroundings. George will therefore have more to learn than his timetable when settling into the school.

Why Teachers Are Called 'Beaks'

George will also have to become familiar with Eton's distinctive language. Teachers are traditionally known as 'beaks,' while the school year is divided into three 'Halves': Michaelmas, Lent and Summer.

The school also has its own disciplinary terminology. Pupils who arrive late to a lesson or submit work late can encounter the 'Tardy Book,' a sanction requiring a boy to sign the book in the School Office early in the morning.

There is also a tradition known as 'Sent Up For Good.' Exceptional academic work can be shown to the Head Master or Lower Master before being lodged in the College Archives.

The Strange Wall Game Tradition

George's first term is particularly relevant to Eton's famous Wall Game because the sport is played during the Michaelmas Half. The game takes place against a wall and involves teams known as the Collegers and Oppidans.

Rather than playing like conventional football, players compete along a five-metre-wide strip beside the wall, with goals originally marked by a door in a garden wall and an elm tree. Players can become locked in a tightly packed scrum known as a 'Bully,' adding to the unusual nature of the game.

The wall itself dates to an order made in 1717, while the first written rules for the Wall Game date from 1849. Eton says boys of all ages play the game throughout the Michaelmas Half.

For George, starting at Eton therefore means adapting to more than a new classroom environment. His first term places him inside a school culture where formal dress, distinctive rules, centuries-old terminology and unusual traditions remain part of everyday life.