Prince George celebrated his 13th birthday on July 22, surrounded by those closest to him.

While hitting the teenage milestone is an exciting chapter, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Like any teenager, George faces a period of significant change. Most notably, the young prince is set to begin life as a full-time boarding student at Eton College this September.

Although reports suggest he is looking forward to the move, it would be natural for some nerves to creep in along the way. There are also indications that George’s experience at Eton could prove more demanding than his father, Prince William’s, was during his time at the prestigious school. It comes as Kate Middle gears up for a “testing” year with her son George.

A key concern is that George, who currently does not own a phone, will find himself surrounded by peers immersed in social media, posing unique security and privacy challenges for the future king.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Page Six, “The biggest challenge won’t be academics or making friends. It’ll be balancing Prince George’s privacy with the reality that every classmate has TikTok.

She pointed out that William and his brother, Prince Harry, who also attended the prestigious college, were students there before social media transformed youngsters’ lives, and that, unfortunately, “George won’t have that luxury.”

Kinsey continued to stress the importance of “protecting his privacy” in an age when a mishap or moment, especially involving someone of George’s status, can go viral in seconds. The risks today aren’t just about someone physically approaching the future king.

The royal commentator also notes that factors such as digital exposure, drones, social media, and the speed at which information spreads “all complicate the security picture.”

“That means Prince George’s protection will almost certainly be more sophisticated even if it’s designed to remain largely invisible,” she stressed.

George is set to begin his studies at Eton College this September, while his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, will continue attending Lambrook School until they each turn 13.

Prince William attended Eton College from 1995 to 2000, where he found stability during his teenage years. At that time, the British media agreed to a privacy arrangement that allowed him to move around campus without constant paparazzi attention, giving him the freedom to live much like any other student.

He also benefited from a close support network. Former Welsh Guards officer Captain Mark Dyer regularly visited Eton to take William out for lunch while helping him navigate his future, including his gap year plans.

Because the college sits just across the River Thames from Windsor Castle, William could frequently visit Queen Elizabeth II for private afternoon teas, which became an important source of comfort throughout his teenage years.