Prince Harry opens up about strange school routine and feeling isolated at Eton

Prince Harry has opened up about an unusual and rather privileged ritual from his boarding school days, shedding new light on his early education and formative years.

The Duke of Sussex attended some of Britain’s most elite schools from a very young age, beginning at nursery before progressing through preparatory education and eventually boarding at some of the country’s most prestigious institutions.

The prince began his education at Mrs Mynors Nursery School before moving on to Wetherby Prep School and later boarding at Ludgrove School, where he was just eight years old when he first lived away from home.

He later attended Eton College, following in the footsteps of his older brother. Despite the challenges of being separated from his family so young, Harry recalled receiving extensive support from school staff.

Among the memories he shared was a particularly striking routine involving the youngest boys at boarding school.

In his memoir Spare, Harry described how matrons would personally wash the boys’ hair several times a week after dinner, a ritual that now strikes many as highly unusual.

He recalled rows of white bathtubs where boys lay back while staff washed their hair, likening the scene to “little Pharaohs” awaiting personal attention.

Harry has also spoken candidly about the emotional challenges he faced during his time at Eton, particularly in relation to his relationship with his brother, Prince William.

In an interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Harry revealed that William asked him to pretend they did not know each other while at school.

At the time, Harry said, the request hurt deeply and left him feeling rejected and confused, especially after years apart at different schools.

Reflecting on his struggle to fit in, Harry wrote that sport became his refuge at Eton. He described the rigid social divisions between students who pursued traditional “dry” sports such as rugby and football and those involved in water-based activities like rowing and swimming.