<![CDATA[Gordonstoun School, which has been attended
by pupils including Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prince
Andrew, will be the subject of a new television documentary which
is set to be aired in the New Year.
The documentary, which will be simply titled
‘Gordonstoun’, will begin filming at the Elgin school at
the end of this month and will comprise of six one hour episodes to
be shown on Sky1.
The school was founded in 1934 by German educator Kurt Hahn. The
Duke of Edinburgh was one of the school’s first pupils, having
previously been educated at Salem in Germany. Prince Philip clearly
thought that the school’s education would be good enough for his
son, hence why Prince Charles was sent to Gordonstoun in 1962,
after his five years at Cheam. It is common knowledge though that
Charles despised his time at Gordonstoun, famously describing it as
‘Colditz in kilts’.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5CHAQZfs5c]
It wasn’t just Charles who didn’t want to be at the school; his
grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, also perished the
thought that her first grandson would be sent to
a boarding school so far away. In a letter to Queen Elizabeth
II, the Queen Mother urged her daughter that Charles should be
spared the rigours of Gordonstoun and be sent to Eton instead.
Though the Queen Mother’s pleas were politely ignored, Charles did
do well at the school. In his final year he was made Head Boy and
in 1967 he left the institution with six GCE O Levels and two
A Levels in History and French, grades B and C respectively.
ITN Productions will be making the six part documentary. ITN’s
Emma Read commented on the upcoming show: “We look forward to
revealing a new perspective into one of Britain’s most well known
schools through the eyes of its pupils and staff in two of the
school’s boarding houses. The series will give viewers an insight
in to the reality of modern life at this institution, as well as
its pupils academic life and achievements”.
Both Prince Andrew and Prince Edward attended the £34,000 a year
school in 1973 and 1977 respectively. Prince Andrew left
Gordonstoun with six O Levels and three A Levels in English,
History and Politics, while his younger brother Edward left with
nine O levels three A Levels in English, History and Politics at
grades C, D and D respectively. At the time, Gordonstoun was only a
school for boys, hence why The Princess Royal never attended.
Although, Princess Anne was able to send both of her children,
Peter and Zara, to the school when the time came. Peter Phillips,
who became Head Boy, graduated with two A Levels, whilst sister
Zara left the school with three A Levels in Geography, Biology and
Physical Education.
It is certain that Gordonstoun has had its fair share of Royal
pupils and one can assume that the new documentary series will
showcase the Royal connections with the school in at least one of
its episodes. Who knows, we might even get one of the ex pupils
sharing their thoughts on their time at Gordonstoun and its motto,
‘Plus est en Vous’, which means ‘There is more in you’.
Featured photo credit: Huxley_slides via photopin
cc]]>
