London: Britain’s Prince George is to start nursery school near his family home in the east of England from the New Year, his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said.
The two-year-old George, third-in-line to the British throne, will go to the Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk, close to Prince William and Kate’s home Anmer Hall, from January. A nursery spokesperson said “We are looking forward to welcoming George to our nursery where he will get the same special experience as all of our children”. The nursery costs a modest 5.50 per hour pounds, or 33 pounds per day, and it also has some children with special needs, reflecting the royal couple’s endeavour to give George as normal an upbringing as possible.
The Montessori method of nursery education, invented by the Italian Maria Montessori, places an emphasis on independence, freedom and social development. Children are taught in mixed age groups, given choices of activities, and freedom of movement within the classroom. Westacre, which is housed in a converted chapel, teaches children aged two to five and was rated “good” in its latest report by the UK schools inspectorate Ofsted.
Prince George’s new school was opened 23 years ago and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 12 and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 2.45, during school term times. Prince William and Kate also released another official photograph of their family of four to mark the announcement. They said they continued to be grateful for the public’s support in respecting the privacy of their young family.
The new picture of the Duke and Duchess with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, shows the family in the garden at Kensington Palace. It was taken in late October by photographer Chris Jelf.
Jelf said “I thoroughly enjoyed photographing a very lovely family, although you have to be sharp as you don’t have long when there are two young children involved! I hope everyone enjoys this photo and I am honoured that the Duke and Duchess have decided to share it with the public”.