Prince George’s bizarre Eton life: ‘boys maids’, school pub and punishments including 500 Latin lines and weeding a housemaster’s garden

Prince George is beginning a new chapter at Eton College, following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, and uncle Prince Harry. But alongside its prestigious education, the £65,673-a-year boarding school has some surprisingly unusual traditions and rules.

The 13-year-old royal will leave Lambrook School and board at Eton during term time, learning to navigate its centuries-old customs, distinctive vocabulary and strict disciplinary system.

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George will face some very unusual punishments

One of the more eccentric parts of Eton life is its traditional approach to discipline. Pupils who break the rules can find themselves in “The Bill”, with a school prefect, known as a “praepostor”, notifying them.

Punishments can include “Lines”, which involve copying out 100 hexameters of Latin poetry. A more serious “Georgic” means copying 500 hexameters. There are also “Chores”, which can involve unpaid work such as weeding a housemaster’s garden.

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He will have his own private room – and a ‘boys maid’

George is expected to live in one of Eton’s 25 boarding houses, with Prince William and Prince Harry having previously lived at Manor House.

Each pupil gets a private room, which grows larger as they progress through the school. George will have a bed, desk and shelves, while a House Master and Dame will oversee his house life. He will also have a “boys maid”, who helps tidy his room each morning.

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Eton has its own language

George will quickly have to learn that an Eton lesson is a “div”, examinations are “trials” and teachers are called “beaks”. School prefects are known as “Pops”, while the academic year is divided into three “halves” – Michaelmas, Lent and Summer.

He will enter F Block, Eton’s name for Year 9, and will also be assigned an “uncle” to help him settle into school life. A “timelord” will help him manage his diary and busy schedule.

There is even a school pub

Eton’s famous Tap pub is another unusual feature. Pupils can reportedly order beer or cider from the age of 16, subject to limits. George, of course, still has several years before he reaches that age.

Meanwhile, “Chambers” takes place each morning, when pupils can eat and chat with their house masters. Former pupils have recalled cooked breakfasts being served, with boys even able to eat in their dressing gowns.

Wet Bobs, Dry Bobs and Slack Bobs

Sport is a major part of Eton life, with around 45 sports available. Rowers are known as Wet Bobs, while cricketers and other sportsmen are called Dry Bobs. Those who don't take part are known as Slack Bobs.

George will also have access to Eton’s rowing lake at Dorney, which was used during the 2012 Olympics.

George is following William’s footsteps

The young prince will officially mark his arrival by signing Eton’s centuries-old entrance book, just as Prince William did in 1995.

Royal expert Jennie Bond described the move as “much more of a big step” for George.

"[He's] had the security and comfort of living at home until now. There's no getting away from the fact that moving away from your family home – and George's family home is a very happy and secure one indeed – is going to be a wrench.

"But it's going to be the most enormous help to George to know that his dad went through exactly the same process and he can turn to him for advice, comfort or support."

Eton is only around 10 minutes from the Wales family's home at Forest Lodge, meaning George can potentially return home at weekends while experiencing a new level of independence.

Prince William’s phone rules could follow George to Eton

One question surrounding George’s new school life is whether he will finally get his own mobile phone. Prince William previously revealed that he has been strict about his children having phones and unrestricted internet access.

The Prince said in June: "It is really hard. Our children don't have phones. When George moves on to secondary school, maybe he'll have one with limited access. It's getting to the point where it is becoming a bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands why, we communicate why we don't think it's right.

"I think it's the full internet access I have a problem with, children can access too much stuff they don't need to see online but having a phone with text messages, the old-style brick phones like we used to call them, that's fine."

Eton’s famous alumni

George is joining a school whose former pupils include members of the Royal Family, politicians, actors, writers and adventurers. Prince Harry attended Eton, while 20 British prime ministers have studied there, including Boris Johnson and David Cameron.

Other famous alumni include author George Orwell, James Bond creator Ian Fleming, actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston, and adventurer Bear Grylls.

For George, however, Eton will be less about its famous alumni and more about learning to navigate an entirely new way of life – one filled with royal expectations, centuries-old traditions and some very unusual school rules.