The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a new family portrait today with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte will begin attending a £15,000-a-year London nursery from next month, her parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed today.
William and Kate, who is pregnant with her third child, will send the two-year-old to Willcocks Nursery School, located close to their Kensington Palace home.
Charlotte will be invited with her parentsfor a short ‘stay and play’. William and Kate will then be asked to leave to see if Charlotte is happy to be left alone.
The school recommends in its guidance to parents that pupils bring a toy or photo from home, and take a picture of their teacher back to their house.
It says: ‘As your child builds a rapport with the teachers, we will ask you to stay in the vicinity for the first few sessions so that you can return if needed.’
School fees are £3,050 a term for mornings and £1,800 for afternoons, totalling £14,500 if children attend both sessions over three terms.
A school spokesman said: ‘We are delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen the Willcocks Nursery School for Princess Charlotte. We look forward to welcoming Charlotte to our nursery in January.’
Kensington Palace issued this photograph this morning of Willcocks Nursery School in London
The nursery’s headmistress is Lavinia Taylor, who has been teaching at the school for many years and moved into her current role in September 2009.
It broke up for Christmas last week, but the spring term will start in just over a fortnight on Thursday, January 4.
A profile of the school by society magazine Tatler, which lists it among its best London nurseries, said: ‘We know describing a good school in Kensington as a ‘hidden gem’ is an oxymoron, but the Willcocks Nursery is just that.
‘It has a loyal following – a mix of old English families and chic foreigners – but flies under the radar. It’s all quite understated.
Kate, pictured with Charlotte in Hamburg in July, will send her to the school next month
‘Yes, you should register at birth and yes, there are waiting lists, but fab head Lavinia Taylor says: “We try our best not to disappoint”. A mother describes it as ‘gentle, which is what you want for young ones’.
‘They’re just by the Royal Albert Hall, so expect jaunts to the museums and the park, as well as captivating talks on things like Shackleton, archaeology or the environment to keep things lively and fun.
‘Kindness is evident everywhere, plus the nursery is a cooperative, so you know staff are in it for the long haul.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced that their daughter, Princess Charlotte , will begin attending Willcocks Nursery School in Kensington, West London, from January
The royal couple have also released a new family photograph of themselves and their children – which will feature on their Christmas card.
The photograph shows the duke with his son, Prince George, standing immediately in front of him, while Charlotte stands with her mother.
The image was taken at Kensington Palace earlier this year by Chris Jackson, royal photographer for Getty Images.