Princess Charlotte is “very excited” about her first day of school, her proud father said as he dropped her off for the start of a new chapter in her life.
Charlotte, aged four, looked a little hesitant at first as she was led into the grounds of Thomas’s Battersea, while holding the hand of her mother, Kate.
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
The Duke of Cambridge walked beside them, holding Prince George’s hand after driving his family to the fee-paying independent school in south London.
William parked the family Land Rover Discovery in an internal car park before the foursome headed to a side entrance where Helen Haslem, head of the lower school, was waiting to greet them.
Charlotte grasped her mother’s hand with both of hers and walked close to her as she approached Ms Haslem.
William beamed and said: “First day – she’s very excited.”
His daughter is following in the footsteps of six-year-old brother George, who has been at the school for two years.
Charlotte wore the school’s transitional uniform which spans both summer and winter – a dark dress and cardigan with a blouse, white socks and shoes.
She had her hair in a practical ponytail, which she kept adjusting, fixed with a bow.
Her mother carried her satchel which had a key-ring in the shape of a pony’s head attached to it.
The duke and duchess took Charlotte to her class, where she is one of 21 pupils, to help her settle in and then waved her off for the start of her first day.
Kate missed George’s first day in September 2017 as she was suffering with extreme morning sickness while pregnant with Prince Louis.
She looked relaxed, wearing a summer dress, while her husband wore a jacket, trousers and shirt.
In his welcome message on the school website, headmaster Simon O’Malley says: “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.”
