According to reports, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children use the surnames George Wales, Charlotte Wales, and Louis Wales at school.
The royal siblings use this surname instead of being referred to as Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, according to Hello! magazine.
“Wales” refers to their parents’ titles—Prince and Princess of Wales—which the couple received following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
It is customary for members of the royal family to use their parents’ titles as surnames while at school.
William and Prince Harry were known as William Wales and Harry Wales during their school years and military service, as their father, King Charles, held the title of Prince of Wales at the time.
William’s children were previously known as George Cambridge, Charlotte Cambridge, and Louis Cambridge at school, before his and Middleton’s titles changed from Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Prince and Princess of Wales following Charles’s accession to the throne. Charlotte and Louis attend Lambrook School, where their 13-year-old brother was also previously enrolled.
George is in his first year at Eton College—the school William also attended—in Berkshire, England; his parents accompanied him there last month.
George, who has grown to be as tall as his mother, appeared dressed like his father—wearing a black suit and a blue tie—on his first day at the school.
The teenager subsequently changed into his school uniform, which consists of a black tailcoat, a waistcoat, striped trousers, and a white shirt with a stiff collar. William attended Eton College from 1995 to 2000, while Harry attended between 1998 and 2003.
Eton College is an all-boys boarding school—the largest in England—and was founded in 1440.
Following the news of George’s school choice, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Page Six that the “biggest challenge” for the teenager “won’t be the academics or making friends,” but rather “balancing his private life with the reality that every classmate has TikTok.”
“William and Harry attended before social media changed the nature of adolescence,” she pointed out in July. “George won’t have that luxury.”
Furthermore, Schofield noted that George is expected to have his own room, though he will be “in a social environment” and will likely participate in the school’s sports program.
Schofield noted that George would have an advantage at the school, given that his father is an Eton alumnus.
“William knows where the pressure points are,” she observed. “Understands social dynamics, academic expectations, and emotional challenges.”