Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are returning to school later this week, and Prince William and Kate Middleton are facing a big decision regarding their eldest child
William and Kate are facing a big decision regarding George(Image: PA)
As August draws to a close, summer is coming to an end, and a fresh academic year approaches. For the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three youngsters, this promises to be an incredibly hectic time as the family returns to their regular routine.
Following quality time spent together during the extended school break, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will return to their classrooms in the coming days.
All three children are enrolled at Lambrook School, located near their current Adelaide Cottage residence in Windsor—though this arrangement won’t last much longer. This academic year will be 12-year-old George’s final one at Lambrook before he transitions to secondary school next year.
His next destination remains undecided, with both Eton and Marlborough College being discussed as possible choices. However, as William and Kate wrestle with this significant educational decision for their firstborn, the upcoming school year could stir complex emotions for the entire family, Jennie Bond tells the Mirror.
The former BBC Royal correspondent exclusively revealed: “William and Catherine’s baby boy George is rapidly turning into a young man—and this last year at Lambrook School with his siblings will be another milestone in his life.”
“I’m sure that he’ll feel nervous about the big change ahead, but hopefully some of his school friends will be making the move with him, wherever he is headed.
“George has become accustomed to his parents being heavily involved in his school life, with either mom or dad often doing the school run, and I’m sure they’re fully invested in every aspect of his education. So that’s going to be another big change ahead.
“There’s no doubt they will all cherish this final year of the three children being together – if, indeed, it does turn out that they end up at different schools.”
Another significant shift is on the horizon for William, Kate, and their kids as they plan to move from Adelaide Cottage to a brand new home on the Windsor estate.
Later this year, they will relocate to Forest Lodge, a secluded $20 million eight-bedroom home in Windsor Great Park, where minor renovations have already begun.
The property is viewed as the family’s forever home and where they will reside when William and Kate eventually ascend to the throne, instead of moving into Buckingham Palace.
The move is also being characterized as a “fresh start,” given the challenging times they have faced at Adelaide Cottage, such as Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
And Jennie says the move is all part of William and Kate balancing their need for privacy and public duty. She explained: “After a childhood spent shuffling between the homes of his quarrelling parents, William is determined to give his family the stability he missed.
“He is almost obsessive about guarding his family’s privacy. And the fact is that they can have a great deal more privacy in a secluded house in Windsor Great Park than they could ever enjoy if they live in the middle of a major tourist attraction like the Palace or Castle.
“Also, while his children are young, I can quite understand that he wants to keep them as grounded (literally) as possible, so that they know exactly what a comfy and settled home life feels like: something crucially important to William because he never had it before he married.
“But, like his father, William is ‘not stupid’ — as Charles retorted when challenged about whether he would change his ways when he became King.
“I’m sure he knows he will have to ‘put on his public face’ a lot more when he takes over. But, for the time being, he is much more a protective husband and dad than a King in waiting. And that’s quite OK with me.”
This comes as the school drop-off is one element of academic life that William and Kate are recognized for being extremely involved with, and the duo are frequently spotted at their kids’ sporting events and after-school activities.
Athletics appears to be a major component of Lambrook school culture, with amenities including a cricket field, soccer and rugby fields, and a golf course.
The Prince and Princess of Wales with eldest son Prince George (Image: Getty Images)
The institution also provides an extensive array of additional extracurricular programs, such as beekeeping, horseback riding, and tending to the school’s resident chickens and swine. Kate, a strong advocate for the benefits of outdoor activities, especially during her cancer treatment, would have undoubtedly appreciated the focus on nature.
Despite their Royal status, the couple has always wanted their children to have as normal an upbringing as possible. This includes no special treatment at school, where they are just like any other students.
However, this could present challenges, particularly for ordinary students. Jennie noted: “Having friends over for play dates or sleepovers can’t be so easy with all the security and privacy issues that come with royal life.
“And the family are usually away at weekends or school holidays — often in Norfolk— so it may be harder to maintain close ties. But I’m sure William and Catherine have found a way to let their children develop friendships as normally as possible.”
Jennie also pointed out the unique aspects of Royal life: “Let’s face it, nothing can be completely ‘normal’ when you are born royal. How many kids know what it’s like to hang around Palaces and castles, go to a Coronation, or ride in a carriage at Trooping the Colour? How many children have cameras pointed at them every time they are seen in public?”.
“But I think these three are lucky in that their parents have done all they can to let them enjoy a carefree childhood. School holidays are, for most parents, an exhausting period of happy chaos, punctuated by sibling squabbles. So there will probably be a part of William and Catherine that will be relieved to return to the structure of the school term.”
Yet, it’s not only the children who will face a hectic September as they settle back into school routines. Both William and Kate will also resume their public responsibilities, with multiple major events already scheduled in their calendars.
Naturally, Kate is still slowly returning to her duties while she continues recovering from cancer treatment. She had previously called her cancer diagnosis “life-changing” and described the treatment and recovery process as a “rollercoaster”, emphasizing the significance of taking a comprehensive “mind, body, and spirit” approach.
She appears to still be finding her footing as she transitions back to her professional commitments. Nevertheless, one crucial engagement she might participate in alongside the rest of the Royal Family is US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.
Trump will conduct an extraordinary second state visit to the nation starting September 17, and Jennie thinks Kate’s participation would serve as the “icing on the cake” for the American leader.
The royal children are returning to school (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
She said: “It will depend on her health. But I’m sure both William and Catherine recognize the importance of massaging the president’s ego, and they will play as prominent a part as possible.
“It’s what the monarch and his senior working royals must do; it’s their job and their duty, and they will do it well.”
And state duty aside, Jennie also says the pair will want to focus on their own passion projects, too.
“William has his Earthshot Prize in Brazil – as well as a pretty full diary of engagement at home – and Catherine, as she slowly returns to her work life, will be planning her annual carol services that have become such a big part of the Christmas festivities,” she explained.
However, as has been repeatedly demonstrated, the family always takes priority over everything else when it comes to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Several years ago, Kate didn’t think twice about skipping William’s Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore so she could support George during his school exams.
The family also chose not to attend the traditional Royal Easter Sunday service this year at Windsor Castle, opting instead to spend quality time together.
And while public outings for the children have appeared to multiply over the summer, with all three attending Trooping the Colour, George and Charlotte enjoying Wimbledon, and Charlotte being treated to the women’s Euros final, this fall could see things shift.
As the children return to school, their public appearances in the coming months may be restricted to only the most significant occasions. Jennie chimed in: “One thing is for sure: William and Catherine have forged a tight, happy family unit—despite all that life has thrown at them in the past couple of years.
“You can see the love in their eyes and their hugs: the children for their parents and vice versa. Every parent wants to bring their children up in a bubble of love and, from what we can see, that’s exactly what the Prince and Princess have achieved.”