Princess Anne shares her honest thoughts on boarding school - and this is what other royals have said

It has been long reported that Charles did not enjoy his time at Gordonstoun in Moray, Scotland. However, in a speech to launch his charity, The Prince's Trust, in 1975, Charles told the House of Lords of Gordonstoun: "It was only tough in the sense that it demanded more of you as an individual than most other schools did mentally or physically. I am lucky in that I believe it taught me a great deal about myself and my own abilities and disabilities. It taught me to accept challenges and take the initiative. Why else do you think I am brave enough to stand up before your Lordships now?"

The Duke of Sussex had a mixed experience at Eton College, writing in his memoir, Spare, that he struggled to fit in: "Sport, I decided, would be my thing at Eton." He described the social structure among sporty students, with 'dry bobs' playing land-based sports like rugby and football, while 'wet bobs' focused on rowing or swimming. Harry added: "I was a dry who occasionally got wet. I played every dry sport, though rugby captured my heart."

The royal boarded at Marlborough College in Wiltshire for five years, but when it comes to her sons August and Ernest's education, she told the Table Manners podcast that she doesn't plan to send them to boarding school until they're 13.

"My husband went to boarding school at eight," Eugenie explained. "Looking at my sons now, I want to hang out with them. I like playing with them. I don't want them to leave. I wouldn't send them at eight - I haven't told Jack that."

While Kate has not spoken openly about her time at Marlborough College, her brother, James Middleton, revealed what his sister was like at boarding school as he recalled his education in his book, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life.

He wrote: "Naturally, Catherine and Pippa, being exemplary students, managed to get through their entire school lives without a single demerit, but I amassed a handful of them every term. So while the female Middletons would be applauded for being helpful to teachers – opening doors and carrying books for them – I'd undo all their kind deeds by scampering along the corridor instead of walking because I was late for a lesson. (Two bad order marks for the price of one there.) And while Catherine and Pippa got full marks for spelling tests and top grades for essay writing, I lagged behind on both counts, accruing a batch of misconduct marks for my below-par schoolwork."

While Princess Anne was unable to attend Gordonstoun like her brothers, she later sent both her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, to the boarding school when it became co-educational. In an interview with The Times in 2018, Zara said: "I loved school, I loved sport and being with my mates all the time. I don't know how much work I did. You do get homesick, but I had so much fun, and Pete was very protective. All his friends were too. They kept me out of trouble. After Dorset, I joined him at Gordonstoun. He hung out with a group of lads who liked to have fun, but he always knew how to get away with stuff. When he was made head boy, I thought, 'How did you manage that?'"