Prince George has not even started at Eton College yet, but the prestigious school has already taken a noticeable step to protect the future King’s privacy. New “No Photography” signs have appeared around the school ahead of George’s expected arrival in September, sending a pointed message to anyone tempted to capture images of pupils on campus.

At just 13, George is preparing to enter one of Britain’s most famous schools — the same institution attended by his father, Prince William, and his uncle, Prince Harry. But unlike an ordinary new pupil, George will arrive carrying an extraordinary level of public attention. Every movement, friendship and glimpse of the future monarch is likely to attract interest, making privacy one of the most important issues surrounding his new chapter.

The signs may look simple, but their timing is striking. Eton has reportedly introduced the measures weeks before George is due to walk through its gates, suggesting that preparations for his arrival extend well beyond classrooms and accommodation. The school’s priority appears to be ensuring that George can experience school life without becoming a constant target for cameras.

The move also echoes William’s own experience at Eton. During his time there, arrangements were made with the press to limit intrusive coverage and allow the young prince a degree of privacy. Now, decades later, his eldest son appears set to enter the same environment under similarly careful conditions.

There is another detail that makes the decision particularly revealing. Eton’s privacy rules come alongside restrictions on smartphone use for younger pupils, with Year 9 students reportedly using basic phones without internet access rather than unrestricted smartphones. George himself has never had a smartphone, fitting closely with William and Kate’s cautious approach to their children’s exposure to technology and public scrutiny.

For William, this may be about more than simply following school rules. He knows firsthand what it was like to grow up as one of the world’s most recognisable young royals, surrounded by cameras and relentless interest. Protecting George from repeating the most intrusive parts of that experience appears to be a priority as his son moves into an increasingly visible role within the monarchy.

Yet the most intriguing part may be what the “No Photography” signs quietly suggest about the future King’s life at Eton. The school is not simply preparing for another pupil — it is preparing for a boy whose identity could make even an ordinary walk across campus a news event.

And behind those two blunt words on the signs, there may be a much bigger understanding taking shape between the palace, the school and the press — one that could determine just how much of Prince George’s teenage years the public will ever get to see.