The Duke of Cambridge did what many parents have done this week – accompanying their child to school for the first time. Today was Prince George’s first day of primary school at Thomas’ in Battersea, with Kate missing out on the special moment due to her morning sickness.
Prince William made the drive from Kensington Palace south of the river to the school himself.
George, 4, held William’s hand as he went to meet the head of Thomas’s lower school, Helen Haslem, looking a little nervous.
Prince George arriving with the Duke of Cambridge for his first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea in London. Picture by ROTA / i-Images
The future King wore the navy and red uniform of Thomas’, while the Duke held his son’s rucksack.
Greeting the teacher with a handshake, George continued to appear shy, but held Ms Haslem’s hand to the door.
Prince William told Haslem that George had been eagerly watching and he had “noticed” the other boys going into the school in their uniforms. He will join a class of 20 at the school.
Head of Lower School, Helen Haslem, greets Prince George and his father, Prince William, on the youngster’s first day of school (Kensington Palace(
The Duchess of Cambridge said over the summer that her son wouldn’t know what hit him as he started school; she had to miss this special occasion for her son, due to severe morning sickness in her third pregnancy.
George will be known on the register as ‘George Cambridge’, with Ben Thomas, principal, saying he will not receive special treatment.
“We are going to try and make this a really happy, safe and secure time,” he said. “The whole aim of these precious years of early education is to give children that confidence in who they really are.
“We are not going to try and mould him into any kind of particular person. I hope he will have the confidence to be himself with all his quirks and his idiosyncrasies and characteristics – that’s what I would want for all of our children.”
Prince George’s first day at Thomas’ School in Battersea was missed by Duchess Kate, who is still suffering with morning sicnkess. Prince William took him to school (Kensington Palace)
Mr Thomas added: “The global spotlight has been a little bit daunting but that will move on and we are looking forward to a time when he is just another Thomas’s pupil.”
Maud Windsor, the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, also began school at Thomas’s today; she is a distant cousin of Prince George, and from an interview given by her parents, they have played together in the past.
1 comment
congratulations
may god save & bless you