In an emotional turn of events following the shocking news of Princess Catherine’s illness, the Royal Family’s circle and beyond showed their support. The princess and her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, are all Marlborough grads, as is Prince William’s cousin, Princess Eugenie.

Over the summer, Prince George was spotted with his parents on a visit to Eton College, where Prince William and Prince Harry attended as teenagers.

During a visit to Singapore, Prince William was a charming local, but his wife, Princess Catherine, was noticeably absent from the whirlwind trip.

At that time, he apologized on his wife’s behalf and revealed the real reason why he stayed in the UK. “We will unravel the reason behind the princess’s absence, including their eldest child, baby, and why Prince George has a big week ahead,” William said in his speech at the US Global Wildlife Summit. “I should mention that Catherine was sorry she couldn’t be here. She is helping George pass his first big exam,” he added, making the crowd laugh.

While William didn’t elaborate on which exam his son will be taking, the young royal may be preparing for his upcoming entrance exam to try to make it into one of the country’s top schools. With tuition fees of $48,000 a year, it’s understandable that, like his father and Uncle Harry, the dedicated mother of three will be at home to support him during important exams.

At age 10, the heir to the throne must take an entrance exam to determine which high school he will attend when he turns 13. The exam will include an online predictive assessment of aptitude, academic achievement, and a face-to-face interview at Eton. In July 2024, the palace will learn of Prince George’s results.

William expressed confidence in George’s abilities, saying, “Expect George to be quite a smart young man.” He mentioned that George will complete two of the three steps of this process in November. The Future King will take the IB multiple choice exam, which will include verbal and non-verbal math, as well as English.

Previous speculation suggested that George could follow in either parent’s footsteps in Marlborough or Eton. Marlborough, where Princess Catherine and her siblings are graduates, is co-ed, while Eton, where Prince William and Prince Harry attended, is one of the most sought-after schools in the world.

Upon his return to Royal duties last week at a food distribution charity, Prince William received cards for Princess Catherine and King Charles, who is also undergoing cancer treatment. “Oh, some cards. You’re very kind. Thank you very much,” Prince William told volunteer Rachel Kapa. When she told the royal to look after his wife, he placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “I will.”

The Prince of Wales also took time off following his wife’s January 16 abdomino surgery to help in her recovery and keep the children’s schedules as normal as possible. He returned to public outings in the days following the news of his father King Charles’ cancer diagnosis.