The first day of school is nerve-wracking for any child, even if you happen to be third in line to the throne.
Prince George arrived at Thomas’s Battersea, London, on Thursday preparing for his first day in reception class accompanied by his father The Duke of Cambridge.
With the added pressure of being in the spotlight, George naturally came over a little shy when he entered the school gates.
An adorable clip sees the young royal looking nervous and clinging on to William’s hand as he walked up meet his new teacher.
He appeared to whisper something and took a step back as the Head of Lower School Helen Haslem reached out to shake his hand.
The sweet footage has been shared by royal watchers, who believe that the four-year-old is saying ‘hi’.
Prince George appeared to mumble ‘hi’ to his teacher as he nervously walked into his new school
George arrived in the Thomas’ uniform of a blue official school jumper with red logo, blue Bermuda shorts and blue socks with laceless shoes and his name ‘George Cambridge’ on his bag.
Surrounded by well-wishers, William and his eldest child walked hand in hand into the school grounds.
His mother the Duchess of Cambridge, 35, couldn’t be there for George’s first day of school as she is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
George looked shy as he noticed his new teacher Helen Haslem coming towards him and sunk behind his father’s arm.
Prince George looked nervous as he started school at Thomas’s Battersea on Thursday morning
Royal watcher @PrinceG13846284 tweeted about the cute moment, saying it was the ‘cutest thing that ever happened’
Twitter user flooded the social network with well wishes for the prince on his first day
He appeared to whisper ‘hi’ as he timidly put his hand over his mouth and gave a shy smile.
MailOnline contacted a lip reader, who was unable to verify whether George had whispered ‘hi’ to his teacher.
The video has been noticed by royal watchers, including @PrinceG13846284, who said it was the ‘cutest thing that ever happened’ and another user said they ‘can’t get over’ how sweet the clip is.
Helen, who is the Head of Lower School, led George into his new school by hand, with his father holding onto the other.
Ms Haslem bore a striking resemblance to Kate in a dusky pink gown that was similar to one worn by the duchess in pale pink wool suit by Alexander McQueen during a visit to Adelaide, Australia in 2014.
The four-year-old appeared to mumble ‘hi’ as he approached his new teacher in the school grounds
Ms Haslem shook the little prince’s hand as he let go of his father William for a few moments
The teacher appeared to offer a few reassuring words and George seemed to relax
George was dropped off at the gates of the £3,000-a-term co-ed school this morning by father William as Kate was being cared for at Kensington Palace.
Kensington Palace confirmed George’s place at Thomas’s in March, surprising royal experts who had expected the youngster to follow in his father’s footsteps by going to Wetherby.
The palace said in a statement: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will send their son, George, to Thomas’s Battersea from September 2017 this year.
‘Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to have found a school where they are confident George will have a happy and successful start to his education.’
In front of gathered crowds, George walked into school hand in hand with his father and new teacher
The Duchess of Cambridge was last seen on Wednesday last week but is believed to have been in bed for much of the past of the week
Like father, like son! George, three, makes an adorable entrance at Thomas’s Battersea today right) – 30 years after William started at Wetherby (left)
George will spend the day getting to know teachers, adults and other children as well as completing the important task of finding his classroom peg.
Kensington Palace were forced to announce the news that she and William were happily expecting their third child several weeks early on Monday after the duchess fell ill and had to cancel a major public engagement.
Today Kensington Palace confirmed the news Kate would have dreaded.
A spokesman said: ‘Unfortunately The Duchess of Cambridge remains unwell, and will not be able to accompany Prince George on his first day of school. The Duke of Cambridge will drop off Prince George this morning as planned.’
Kate has already said she is not sure her son ‘has any idea what’s going to hit him’ when he starts school but he did not look upset to be without her today.
William walked in with George and stayed for around 40 minutes before his son and the other children stayed for a half day
The Duke of Cambridge has said Prince George enjoyed a happy first day at his £20,000-a-year school despite being forced to take him without his pregnant wife – but admitted other parents weren’t so lucky
George arrived in a Range Rover shortly before 8.50am with his father.
As a large crowd had gathered outside the school the little prince was driven through a side entrance and a security gate closed behind them.
Casually dressed William took off his glasses and got out to unbuckle his son from his child seat in the rear of the cars.
He immediately took George’s hand and walked towards a side door to the school where the head of the lower school, Helen Haslam, was waiting.
After taking George to school, the Duke of Cambridge attended a Kensington Palace reception for the England Under-20 football team.
He said: ‘Stressful day. Doing a school run. It was really nice actually. It went well.
‘There was one other parent who had more of an issue with their children – so I was quite pleased I wasn’t the one.’
Despite its strong emphasis on academic success, unlike other schools, both state and independent, homework remains optional, up until year 4. It will, therefore, be a few years before it starts eating into the Cambridges’ precious family time.