Today was the big day for our little Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Charlotte started her formal education at Thomas’s Battersea, where Prince George is already a student since September 2017. The school is located just a few miles away from the family’s official residence in London Kensington Palace.
Princess Charlotte arrives for her first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea, joining her older brother Prince George. ✏️📚🏫 pic.twitter.com/8l63WEjzcw
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 5, 2019
Both The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge accompanied Princess Charlotte on her first day of school. William was holding George’s hand and his school bag while Charlotte was on her Mother’s side looking anxious but excited. Last Thursday, Kensington Palace announced that
“Princess Charlotte, accompanied by the Duke and Duchss of Cambridge and Prince George, will attend her first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea on Thursday 5th September”.
Simon O’Malley, headteacher of the school remarked, “We are delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have decided that Princess Charlotte will join her elder brother, Prince George, at Thomas’s Battersea. We greatly look forward to welcoming her and all of our new pupils to the school in September.”
Express reported that Charlotte will start learning French, computing, art, music, drama, and ballet at the school where George is already a student of Grade 2 and ready to learn literacy, numeracy, science, swimming, and music.
The choice of kids’ school was not unexpected but a bit far away from the school royal kids have attended in the past. William and Catherine, who are determined to give their children a normal life during the early years of their lives, said in March 2017 via Palace,
“Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to have found a school where they are confident George will have a happy and successful start to his education”.
The school’s website describes itself as, “Thomas’s Battersea is a busy, thriving, purposeful school, educating 560 boys and girls between the ages of four and 13. As you would expect of any Thomas’s school, the most important school rule is to ‘Be Kind’. We offer a rich and broad curriculum, with Art, Ballet, Drama, ICT, French, Music, and PE all taught by specialist teachers from a child’s first day in school”.
“The school is structured in three, three-year stages (the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools) within a framework of ‘Enjoyment, Learning and Achievement’, which informs a child’s journey through the school. Children join at the age of four and leave at 11 or 13”.
“Whilst we are proud of our record of the senior school entrance and scholarship successes, we place a greater emphasis on a set of core values, which include kindness, courtesy, confidence, humility, and learning to be givers, not takers. We hope that our pupils will leave this school with a strong sense of social responsibility, set on a path to become net contributors to society, and flourish as conscientious and caring citizens of the world. In a rich language environment children are encouraged to speak and listen in a range of situations; they communicate as they investigate and problem solve; they develop confidence and skills in expressing themselves and extend their social skills. Teachers model rich language and encourage children to express their thoughts and ideas through conversation”.
Charlotte is starting her reception year at the school. Both George and Charlotte are known as Cambridges with full names Geroge Cambridge and Charlotte Cambridge at school.
We can see a sparkly £3 unicorn key ring hanging from Charlotte’s bag. Duchess told the Head of the lower school, Helen Haslem, ” She (Charlotte) is very excited”. Charlotte was seen playing with her pony throughout the time in front of cameras. I guess that was her way of handling the pressure of the first day which was a very public event.
Catherine missed Prince George’s first day of school, as she was expecting her third child, Prince Louis, in September 2017 and was suffering from acute morning sickness. But Palace released this beautiful official portrait marking George’s first day. We can expect a similar picture today also.
Catherine has been spotted many times on the school runs. She drops and picks George up from school regularly. The close bond of family is shown when Carole Middleton was also spotted picking up her eldest grandchild from school a few times.
What lovely photographs they are.
In 2017, The Palace also shared pictures of Prince William and Prince Harry’s first day of school.
Updated: As expected Palace shared the cute picture marking Princess Charlotte’s first day of school.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share a photograph of Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace this morning.
The photo was taken shortly before Their Royal Highnesses left for Thomas’s Battersea ✏️📚🏫 pic.twitter.com/oiMKArFQnd
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 5, 2019
The picture was taken at the steps of Kensington Palace before George and Charlotte left for school. Both siblings have protected and loving arms around each other. So far we do not know who took the picture.
For her daughter’s big day, The Duchess of Cambridge brought back a stunning look.
She was wearing Michael Kors Floral-print Dress that she first wore in May 2018 at the royal wedding rehearsal in Windsor.
Catherine paired the dress with Prada Suede Pointy-toe Pumps debuted in March 2016 when she visited EACH Hospice.
Duchess finished her look with Asprey London Oak Leaf Small Hoop Earrings debuted in July 2018 at Wimbledon Men’s Finale in July 2018.
The highlight of the Duchess’ look was her beautiful hair. The normally brunette locks were a shade or two lighter today with honey-toned highlights giving Duchess a stunning autumn look.
On Saturday evening, the Daily Mirror reported that William and Catherine took their kids to enjoy a peaceful outing before they start school.
Kate Middleton and Prince William sneak out to pub for pie with the children https://t.co/7fgr1Fj5wh
— RegalFille (@RegalFille) September 1, 2019
