William and Kate are busy preparing their son:

Little Prince George to start schooling

by Cecilla Rodriguez

These have been busy days for Prince William and Kate Middleton as they follow two recently-established traditions: Sending a royal child to school and releasing a family Christmas card.

Starting in January, two-year-old Prince George will attend Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk, not far from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Anmer Hallhome, Kensington Palace has announced in a media release that included this comment by a spokesman for the school: “We are looking forward to welcoming George to our nursery where he will get the same special experience as all of our children.”

“The early learning at the Westacre Montessori School,” explains the BBC, “costs £5.50 pounds an hour – or £33 a day – and it follows the principles of an Italian doctor called Maria Montessori who developed a new approach to teaching in the early 20th Century, in which children take responsibility for their own learning.”

George effect

Given the now well-pronounced “George effect,” the decision likely means that the Cambridges’ choice of nursery school will trigger a new global trend of parents seeking out Montessori nurseries for their little princes and princesses. If history is a guide, one can only imagine the frenzy this decision will provoke and the impact on the Westacre School.

The interest in foreign nannies skyrocketed as a result of the Cambridges’ announcement two years ago that they had hired a Spanish woman to care for George.

Until Prince William became the first senior royal to go to nursery school outside the palace, the education of the young royalty historically had been conducted in their quarters by private tutors and governesses. Queen Elizabeth II was schooled at home, as was her son, Prince Charles. Princess Diana, herself a kindergarten teacher, changed all that by insisting that William be educated alongside children of his age, enrolling him in Mrs. Mynors School. The Westacre Montessori School is not only close to the Cambridge’s home but also located on a private road that will ensure privacy for the young prince, which is one of his parents’ major worries.

According to Peter Hunt, the BBC’s royal correspondent, William and Kate appreciate the care being taken by the British media, as well as public support for the privacy of their children. He added that the couple is pleased with the protected placement of the new school. To show their appreciation, the royal couple also released a new photo via Kensington Palace’s Twitter account in which they appear crouching in a relaxed pose with six-month-old Prince Charlotte and Prince George in the Kensington Palace Garden against a colourful background of autum leaves. Dressed in dark blue shorts and a knitted sweater, the little prince grins at the camera while his sister, whose shoe has fallen in the grass, sits in her mother’s lap. William gazes at them proudly. The photo, which they incorporated into the Christmas card they sent friends and family, was snapped in October by photographer Chris Jelf.

While it was intended for their personal use, William and Kate were so pleased with it that they decided to make it public. It’s the second official portrait of the family.

“A Family photo – Merry Christmas from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte,” their tweet read.

“The Duke and Duchess are hugely appreciative of all the warm messages they have received about their family this year and are very much looking forward to their first Christmas as a family of four.”

- Forbes