Prince William and Kate Middleton will soon need to make a crucial decision regarding Prince George's education.
Due to new legislation introduced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, school fees for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are set to rise by over £75,000 collectively. Starmer, who won the July 4 General Election decisively, has introduced a value-added tax (VAT) on private school fees as part of his campaign promises.
In the King's Speech on Wednesday, the newly formed Labour government outlined their agenda, with King Charles announcing the elimination of the VAT exemption on private school fees. This move aims to fund the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers.
As a result, parents at Lambrook School in Berkshire, where George (10), Charlotte (9), and Louis (6) attend as day pupils, will face a 20% increase in tax. This will add approximately £12,595 to the total bill for the Prince and Princess of Wales, raising it to over £75,000.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the couple paid £24,714 for Prince George's education, £22,767 for Princess Charlotte's, and £15,498 for Prince Louis's, amounting to a total of £62,979 according to the school's website.
Looking ahead, Prince William and Kate must decide whether Prince George will attend boarding school at Eton after completing Year 8 at Lambrook. Should George enroll at Eton, his fees would be £17,583 per term, or £52,749 annually. With the new VAT, this amount would increase by £10,549, making the total £63,298.
A Government spokesperson commented on the policy, stating: "Education matters and is at the heart of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity so every child gets the best start in life. Ending tax breaks on private schools will help raise revenue for essential public services, including delivering on our pledge to recruit 6,500 teachers."
