Princess Charlotte has officially started school and we can’t believe how grown up she is!
Holding hands with mum Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as she walked towards her new school Thomas’s Battersea, she was also joined by her big brother Prince George, 6, and father Prince William for the milestone day on September 5th.
Princess Charlotte held onto her mother’s hand as she made her way to her first day of school, joined by Prince George and William. (Image: Getty)
While she initially looked a little shy, stealing peeks from behind Kate’s back – a side we don’t often see from Charlotte – her shyness disappeared as she met the head of the lower school Helen Haslem, shaking her hand with a smile.
The four-year-old looked adorable in her school uniform which featured a navy skirt, white blouse and navy cardigan featuring the red school logo with her hair pulled back in a relaxed pony tail, as she made her way to start reception, the class before Year 1, while Prince George looked comfortable in his uniform, having rocked it for two years now, where this year he’ll be starting Year 2.
Charlotte also added a very special accessory to her school bag – a sequinned unicorn keychain!
The day would have no doubt been extra special for Duchess Catherine – looking incredible in a floral summery dress and debuting what looks like a new hair cut and lighter colour – who was sadly unable to attend Prince George’s first day of school in 2017 due to suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, severe form of morning sickness, while pregnant with Prince Louis.
Princess Charlotte waves to the press. (Image: Getty)
Kensington Palace also marked the special day, sharing a beautiful photograph taken by Kate on their official Instagram page.
Taken on the steps outside their home at Kensington Palace, Charlotte beams at the camera, with an arm lovingly wrapped around the waist of big brother Prince George, who flashes an equally toothy grin, featuring a few missing teeth – cute!
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share a photo of Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace this morning,” the caption begins.
“The image was taken shortly before Their Royal Highnesses left for Thomas’s Battersea.”
The location also acted as the backdrop for both Prince George’s first day of school portrait, where he beams hand-in-hand with dad William, as well as the gorgeous photographs of Charlotte taken last year on her first day of nursery school, captured by Kate.
Ahead of the big day Charlotte reportedly couldn’t wait to start “big school” with her older brother.
According to a close source who spoke to People, four-year-old Charlotte “can’t wait to be with George at big school.
“She’s so excited about it.”
“They are close in age, and they spend so much time together,” the insider reveals.
“Playdates [with outsiders] can be tricky, so they learn to lean on each other.”
Charlotte was initially shy as she headed to class, hiding behind mum Kate. (Image: Getty)
The NZ$34,400-a-year school, is just a stone’s throw away from Kensington Palace and schools boys and girls between the ages of four and 13.
According to the school’s website, in her reception year the young royal will try her hand at French, computing, art, music, drama and ballet, and will move through a variety of handwriting stages which include drawing, writing scribbles and random letters.
Her and her classmates will play and explore as well as making “choices and learn to have a go and preserve; be creative and solve problems; form good relationships; be safe, secure and happy,” the website states.
Look closely and you’ll see Princess Charlotte’s sparkly bag accessory – a sequinned unicorn keychain! (Image: Getty)
Meanwhile Prince George will be taking his classes up a gear in Year Two, with his year’s curriculum including core subjects such as maths, English, science, history and geography, alongside religious studies, French, computing, art/design technology, music, drama, PE and ballet.
The school also places a high importance on kindness and empathy, with one of the school’s core values being kindness.
“We expect pupils at Thomas’s to be kind, to be good friends to those around them, always on the lookout for those in need of a word of encouragement or a listening ear,” the school’s website explains.
Charlotte looked much more relaxed as she shook hands with the head of the lower school, Helen Haslem. (Image: Getty)
According to Hello!, earlier this year the Headmaster of the school Simon O’Malley said they were “delighted” to welcome Princess Charlotte.
“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.”
