EXCLUSIVE: Discussions were had about sending Prince Archie to the prestigious boarding school once attended by Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Visit South Africa

Prince Archie is set to break with royal tradition by rejecting a valued place at Eton, it has been claimed.

According to a well-placed source, discussions were had about sending the spare’s heir to the prestigious boarding school once attended by Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William

However, the idea was scrapped in favour of the young prince attending a school in the United States instead.

The source adds that Archie, five, is a relatively new Junior Kindergarten entrant at a California-based school, the name of which Express.co.uk has chosen not to publish, and will continue his education in America throughout his school years.

“Harry and Meghan see Montecito as their home now and couldn’t imagine sending Archie away to school,” said the source. “They are very hands-on parents and can think of nothing worse than to send him [Archie] over to the UK when the rest of the family will remain in the United States.”

In her 2022 interview with The Cut, Meghan revealed that Prince Archie was already attending pre-school, where he was pretty popular with other students.

The Duchess of Sussex described her young son as “the cheerful kid who brings a week’s worth of freshly picked fruit for his fellow classmates and enjoys playing a ‘roaring’ game at recess.’”

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales were spotted taking their eldest child Prince Geoge to have a look around Eton College in June.

Fans shared pictures of the meeting on social media with 11-year-old George seen wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt as he accompanied his parents to the prestigious school.

The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex Visit South Africa

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were over the moon when Archie was born

Although boys do not attend the Berkshire school until they are 13, they can be registered up until June 30 of the school year when they turn 10, according to the Eton website.

If George were sent to Eton where fees cost nearly £50,000 a year from the age of 13 until he leaves school at 18, it would cost a total of close to £300,000.

“The Sussexes and the Wales family seem to have a different approach to bringing up their children,” said the source. “One is not better or worse than the other, just different.”

The Sussexes have been approached for comment.