Mr Little is a former pupil at Eton

Mr Little was a pupil at Eton Choir School before moving on to Eton with a bursary.

He will take over from John Lewis who is retiring.

"I am absolutely delighted by this appointment," Mr Little said.

"I very much look forward to building on Eton's reputation for excellence in education."

Half a century

It is over fifty years since the prestigious school appointed an old boy as head.

The last headmaster to have attended the school as a pupil was Sir Claude Elliott, who was in post from 1933 to 1949.

Prince William completed his Eton education last summer

Eric Anderson, whose position as Eton provost makes him chairman of the school's governing body, said they were "really delighted" that Mr Little was to become headmaster.

"He has already proved himself to be one of the outstanding headmasters of his generation and we were unanimous that he was the ideal appointment for Eton at this moment," Mr Anderson said.

Eton has a reputation as an academically strong school and, more recently, has been in the spotlight as the school chosen for the two princes, William and Harry.