Princess Anne gives verdict on boarding school after Prince Archie decision

Princess Anne has weighed in on the boarding school debate just as speculation over Prince Archie’s future schooling made headlines.

Speaking during her first visit as patron of the Naval Children’s Charity on September 24, the Princess Royal praised the stability a boarding education can bring — one day after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s spokesperson shut down reports that their six-year-old son was registered at Eton College.

“One of the charities I’m doing puts children into boarding schools, and the thing they always say is that it gives them stability,” Anne said. “I think that’s true for a lot of people, that level of stability, because otherwise it leaves gaps in your life which are difficult to manage.”

Her comments came after it was confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have “no plans” to send Archie to Eton, despite speculation that Harry — an Eton alumnus — had already signed him up.

Anne, who boarded at Benenden School for five years, shared a laugh with student Clarice McEwan, who said she “really loves boarding.” Anne noted her own school days were “a long time ago now.”

Anne’s brothers — Charles, Andrew, and Edward — and her children, Peter and Zara, also attended boarding schools, cementing the tradition within the royal family even as Harry and Meghan chart their own course.