Prince William reportedly had a surprising nickname at Eton. A former classmate has claimed fellow students used a blunt two-word label to tease the future king during his school years. The story has resurfaced just as Prince George is set to enroll at the same prestigious Berkshire boarding school. The account offers a rare look at how William was viewed by his peers, long before he became heir to the throne.
A former schoolmate is shedding fresh light on Prince William’s younger years
Kensington Palace recently confirmed that Prince George will attend Eton College in September. Now, stories from his father’s time at the school are once again making headlines. A former pupil who attended Eton alongside Prince William between 1995 and 2000 has shared memories of what life was reportedly like for the young royal behind the school gates. According to his account, William’s status as the future king did not make him untouchable among his peers.
In comments reported by The Telegraph (via Mirror), the former classmate claimed some students jokingly referred to William as an “upstart German.” The nickname allegedly stemmed from the royal family’s German roots. What’s more, per the former pupil, it reflected the teasing culture that existed among students from wealthy and aristocratic backgrounds.
“You have to remember that at Eton, he never stood out that much,” the former classmate said. He claimed there were boys from equally prominent families, and in some cases, from lineages that stretched back centuries.
Far from being isolated by his royal title, William was reportedly seen as part of the wider student body. “We weren’t in awe of William, and I don’t think he would have wanted us to be,” the source said. Further, he alleged that while the Prince of Wales was “popular,” he was also “just one of the crowd.”
The recollections also shed light on a particularly sensitive chapter in William’s youth. During his years at Eton, intense media coverage surrounded the divorce of his parents, King Charles and Diana, then-Princess of Wales. Yet, according to the former student, those subjects were rarely discussed directly at school.
Following Diana’s death in 1997, the former classmate claimed many students chose to express their support privately. While hundreds reportedly wrote letters of condolence, few were willing to bring up the tragedy face-to-face. “I suspect it’s what he’d have preferred at the time,” the individual added.
Originally reported by Zahrah Patel on Reality Tea
