Prince Harry rules out Archie attending Eton, weighs UK schooling for children

Prince Harry has ruled out sending Archie to Eton College, his spokesman said on Tuesday, while signaling that he still prefers to educate his children in the United Kingdom. The disclosure follows media speculation that Eton could be the duke’s preferred option for Archie, given its links to Britain’s elite and its proximity to Windsor, though no enrollment has been filed.

According to several outlets, Harry told friends that Archie would not attend his father’s alma mater, a school a short walk from Windsor Castle, and that there are no plans to place the boy on the Eton rolls. A Sussex spokesman reiterated that Archie has not been enrolled and there are no plans to do so. The statements come as Harry emphasizes that he wants his children to grow up in the United Kingdom to benefit from family and a strong sense of community, even as safety concerns reshape schooling decisions in the United States.

Harrys own experiences at Eton have colored public discussion about his schooling. He enjoyed sports but has described feeling out of place at times, and his memoir Spare recounts difficult moments with his brother and the social dynamics at the school. His upbringing and his mother, Diana, are cited in public narratives about what a royal child should experience in terms of education.

In London, a friend cited by the Daily Mail said Harry remains attached to the idea of a British education and views the family network as a key benefit for his children. The friend noted that Harry has kept a close circle of confidants from his Ludgrove and Eton days. The King is said to be delighted by any signs of closer family ties.

At the WellChild Awards in London on September 8 during his four‑day trip to the UK, Joss Stone described that Harry asked about her family’s return to Britain and spoke warmly about UK schools and the importance of community for children. Stone also noted that the singer and her family felt settled back in Britain and that the exchange highlighted how much community matters to Harry.

Meghan is said to view boarding school as barbaric, according to a friend cited by the Daily Mail, underscoring the push and pull inside the couple over where to educate their children. The dynamic suggests ongoing negotiations with the possibility of a UK education while maintaining life in the United States.

Several observers have floated scenarios on the timing of any move. A former royal aide said such a move is plausible because a British education could fit with a desire to keep children connected to extended family, though experts have warned that family dynamics in the United States and the United Kingdom could complicate decisions. In remarks last month, a former palace staffer suggested that if the children receive a British education, Harry would likely want them to spend time in Britain alongside family.

Harry’s recent UK visit included a rare face‑to‑face meeting with Charles at Clarence House, their first in about 19 months. He later spoke of wanting to spend more time in the United Kingdom, while cautioning that security concerns could complicate any plan to relocate his family there. The exchange underscored how the family continues to navigate shifting loyalties and responsibilities as Harry weighs the future address of his children.

Meanwhile, William and Catherine’s children — George, Charlotte and Louis — attend Lambrook in Berkshire, a contrast that has long been noted as the royal household weighs where Archie and Lilibet might enroll. Harry and Meghan, who live in California with their two children, have repeatedly evaluated how each choice would affect family life and safety.