Inside Eton College’s Long-standing Dress Code

This fall, the historic Eton College, located in Berkshire, England, will welcome a new, high-profile pupil. Prince George, who turned 13 on Wednesday, will join classmates at the all-boys boarding school, which holds a deep significance for the British Royal Family and has a long-standing dress code for all of its students, royal or not. Santa Claus delivers Christmas presents to Eton College students on Dec. 17, 1936. Getty Images Founded by King Henry VI in 1440, Eton College’s dress code has gone through various transitions, evolving alongside the styles of each era. For instance, in the early 18th century, students wore colorful garb, often sporting bright greens and yellows or blue coats with red collars, per Eton College’s official website. As the world entered the 19th century, blue coats and yellow waistcoats were adopted as part of the dress code. Informal practices emerged among students in the 1850s, with more senior boys wearing tails and white bow ties and underclassmen wearing the Eton collar, black tie and short jacket — known as the “bum-freezer,” per Eton College. Round top hats were also adopted sometime in the 1860s, but were phased out by the conclusion of World War II. Prince William’s first day at

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