Back To School!
As the Wales siblings head back to school next week, let's look at their educational journey so far as we look ahead to the future.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will be returning to Lambrook School on Wednesday, September 6th, for their second year at the Berkshire-based prep school. The Prince and Princess of Wales’s children will begin Year Six, Year Four, and Year One, respectively!
In honor of that upcoming milestone, I thought we’d take a look at the schools the children have attended thus far. As we discover the values and missions for each school, I hope the time of upbringing and education The Prince and Princess want for their children becomes evident!
So Far…
When it was time to send their first baby to nursery school in early 2016, William and Catherine chose Westacre Montessori School near their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, for two-and-a-half-year-old Prince George! Maria Montessori, the founder of the teaching method which bears her name, once said: “The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six.”
Sound familiar? Almost like something The Princess of Wales would say, right? The Montessori way of teaching,
“Puts the child first and treats every child as the unique and dynamic learner that they are. Montessori allows children to develop at their own pace and in their own way by letting the child lead the way, and by respecting their independence and creativity.”
Along with an introductory to Maths and Language, children at Westacre Montessori School, with their teachers who act more like guides than instructors, also learn practical life skills. The kids are taught and encouraged to wash dishes, polish surfaces, and cut fruit for the snack table.
Ultimately, Prince George’s first school aimed to “provide a safe, happy, and secure environment; develop physical, social, and practical skills; encourage him to develop a lively enquiring mind; and much more!”
By the time Princess Charlotte was old enough to go to nursery school, the family were already living full-time in London, so they chose Willcocks Nursery School, which is just a short drive, even a walk, from their Kensington Palace apartment. At Willcocks Nursery, Charlotte, and later Prince Louis, who followed his sister's footsteps in 2021, saw their education focus on personal social and emotional development, physical development, and communication and language.
The nursery, located in the church hall of Holy Trinity Church since 1984, follows the Early Years Foundation stage statutory curriculum and says that they:
“Teach lifelong learning behaviours: kindness, collaboration, independence and personal discovery and aim for high standards, excellence and good manners.”
During their time at Willcocks Nursery, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were “encouraged and supported as they developed key skills that prepare them for the next stage of their developmental journey by the nurturing of their inquisitive minds and fostering a love of learning.”
In 2017, William and Catherine surprised the speculating press when they announced that they would be sending their eldest son to Thomas’s Battersea instead of his father’s pre-predatory school, Wetherby. Prince George, who was later joined at the school by his little sister Princess Charlotte in 2019, learned a multitude of essential qualities that Thomas’s characterizes as their values:
“Kindness, courtesy, honesty, respect, perseverance, independence, confidence, leadership, and humility.”
During George and Charlotte’s time at Thomas’s Battersea, the siblings, particularly George, were often seen participating in sports events while their parents were also heavily involved in the school community.
Prince William began attending boarding school at the age of 8, so speculation began in 2021 regarding what Prince George’s next steps would be. He didn’t go to boarding school as some media outlets suggested, but his parents did start looking around for a new school, making it apparent that Prince Louis would not be joining his siblings at Thomas’s Battersea.
Multiple reporters started writing about a move to Windsor by the family months before Kensington Palace finally confirmed in August 2022 that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis would be attending Lambrook School near the Royal Family’s Windsor estate. Again, another surprising choice according to the media.
Lambrook School aims to find the perfect balance between giving children an education that will form the basis of their lives while also prioritizing the happy period of childhood. The school looks to inspire, nurture, provide, prepare, and equip its children.
Undoubtedly, the fact that the school is located on 52 acres of grounds and prioritizes getting kids out into nature, something The Princess of Wales’s work has a heavy focus on, was a huge plus for the couple when choosing the school.
This is where George, Charlotte, and Louis will be returning next week!
Looking Towards The Future
On Prince William’s 42nd birthday a few months ago, he was seen with Catherine and Prince George visiting his old school, Eton College. The site of the young prince, still in his Lambrook uniform, of course, began speculation regarding his future steps. At ten, he is still too young to begin attending Eton College, which enrolls students at the age of thirteen. However, I was informed that the application process takes about three years, so right now is the perfect time to start if they are, in fact, planning on sending George to Eton. (Side Note: I have no doubt he would be admitted if William and Catherine tried to send him there a week before classes started, but I am glad they are doing the entire process if that is the case.)
After King Charles’s less than satisfactory education experience attending Gordounstoun in Scotland, he and his former wife Diana decided to send 13-year-old Prince William to her family’s school of choice as both her father and brother attended Eton College. The school is known for educating the elite and has a long list of notable alumni, including Tom Hiddleston, the current Archbishop of Canterbury, and other Windsors.
Eton College, where William boarded all week and sheltered him from the tumulate of his parent’s broken marriage, is located just a bridge away from Windsor Castle. Prince William famously used to walk over the bridge to have tea and what some people have described as “King lessons” with his late grandmother at the castle. Some have speculated that William and Catherine have already made the move to Windsor so that when/if George boards at Eton College, they will be very nearby.
However, the public’s view of Eton College is one of elitism. I confess that when I saw the picture of Prince George with his parents visiting the all-boys boarding school, I was slightly surprised. Because of their previous schooling choices, I genuinely (and naively) thought that they would not even be seriously considering it, especially because of the public perception of the school. I thought they would go for something more like The Princess of Wales’s alma mater, Malborough College.
Catherine Middleton arrived at Malbrough College a semester later than most students there. She had begun attending Downe House in the fall of 1995, but because of bullying, she switched schools. Reportedly arriving at Malborough College a bit shy, Catherine thrived over the next four years. She was an avid sportswoman who made lifelong friends, most of whom are now her children’s godmothers.
Malbrough College was initially a school meant for the education of the sons of the Church of England clergy but is now co-educational. That is probably the main reason why I was surprised at the choice of Eton for George; it would mean he and Charlotte would have to be separated.
Nevertheless, the visit to Eton does not mean The Prince and Princess of Wales have decided where their young son will be going. Moreover, ultimately, I trust George, Charlotte, and Louis’ parents’ judgment regarding their kid’s education!
Royal Roundup
Last Sunday, we got our first glimpse of The Prince and Princess of Wales as they made their way home from Crathie Kirk church near the Balmoral Estate. Of course the initial excitement was killed when another photo emerged, apparently as they travelled to the church, of the disgraced Duke of York being driven by The Prince as The Princess sat in the back. I knew immediately that there was something strange about the fact that William and Catherine were so tone deaf enough to be seen with him in such an intimate capacity.
Let me remind you all that William was the one threatening not to attend the 2022 Order of the Garter service if Prince Andrew was allowed to participate. So why was he suddenly alllowing himself, because the royal family know they always geet photographed on the way to church, to be seen with his uncle he was never particularly close to? And then The Mirror published an exclusive where they claimed:
“The monarch has made it clear to the senior royals that Prince Andrew would not be shut out any longer and suggested the Prince of Wales would be the one to drive him to church in Scotland last Sunday […] One insider said that while William may have attended private functions with his uncle, namely last Christmas at Sandringham aside from the Queen’s funeral and King’s Coronation, he had absolutely no desire to be seen with the Duke in public. ‘It appears he may have had his wings clipped somewhat.’”
This made far more sense to me and I don’t just say that as an avid Wales fan trying to explain this decision away. It was a dumb move, but the reasoning given makes more sense and is more consistent with William’s previous stance when it comes to his uncle. Moreover, it is easy to think, like I initially did, that this was a Kensington Palace leak trying to cover for William and Catheirne. But the more I read the article, the more I began to believe this was a camp York leak.
Take for instance, the quote saying that Andrew being driven by the future king and queen in full view of photographers was “more than he (Andrew) could have wished for.” Plus, the addition at the end of how Sarah Fergunson has been the “life and soul” at Balmoral and has been seen speaking to The Prince of Wales and The King on “several seperate occasions.” Does that sound like it came from KP? No.
Looking ahead, we’re almost at the finish line! As this whole newsletter referenced, the Wales children will return to school next week, which means a return to royal duties for their parents. Last year, we got photos and a video of George, Charlotte, and Louis arriving at school, but that only happened because it was a new school, so of course, that will not be happening this year.
However, when Prince George started school in 2017 and Princess Charlotte followed in 2019, in addition to the mini photocall, William and Catherine also released an official photo of them before they left for school. I suspect that would have been the case last year if the children’s first day of school did not unfortunately also happen to be the day their great-grandmother, and Queen for seven decades, passed away. I think it would be nice if KP released the supposed photo taken last year and never released or if they shared a photo of the kids heading to school this year (although I understand the fear that people could try to set an expectation for them to do so every year).
It likely won’t happen, but just something I’ve been thinking of…
Finally, we may be just six days from William and Catherine’s return! The Mirror reported last week that The Prince and Princess of Wales will be in South Wales on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. Supposedly, their visit will include a stop at St. David’s Cathedral for a service remembering the late Queen. Although The Prince will not speak during the service, he is expected to lead the tributes with a message that will “strongly look to the future.”
Their visit to South Wales, which will also be poignant because it will mark 264 days since William and Catherine became The Prince and Princess of Wales, will supposedly see them visiting other communities, including a coastal site attached to the company Nopla, one of the 2022 Earthshot Prize winners. We shall see in due time if this story is true…
I suspect this will (finally) be an exciting week! Next weekend, we’ll dive into William and Catherine’s first full year as The Prince and Princess of Wales. Until then!
Great article!
- I was shocked when I saw them going to Eton, not because of the elitism because I had no idea but because I don't see W&C splitting the kids when going to school. I though Malborough was the top choice. Let's hope Eton is just an "if" choice.
- I see your point regarding Andrew, but W&C are adults and they could and should have said NO! I'm sorry, but nobody likes Andrew and look at what happened afterwards, no one liked W&C, not even their most loyal followers. They literally let Charles do whatever he wanted with their names and reputation, and they did nothing. They need to start standing up for themselves, because their actions will pave the way for the future and their children are the future