How Princess Charlotte’s nursery compares to that of Prince George, William and Charles
PRINCESS Charlotte has her very first day at nursery today. But how does the £14,500-a-year Kensington nursery compare to those attended by Prince George, Prince William and Prince Charles?
Princess Charlotte is going to a nursery near Kensington Palace in London but little George was sent to the Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk.
At the time, the Royal family were living in Anmer Hall in Norfolk and the nursery was just a short distance away from the Queen’s Sandringham estate, where the Georgian country house lies.
The Prince George – who was two-years-old – was photographed arriving at the nursery in January 2016 by his mother Kate.
George was dressed in a navy quilted jacket and light blue rucksack and beamed at the camera as he made his way into the Montessori.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided to opt for a village nursery as Prince William was working as a pilot for the East Englian Air Ambulance at the time.
Princess Charlotte's nursery vs Prince George's nursery
Westacre Montessori School cost the Royal couple just £5.50 per hour, £33 per day and most children who are sent to the nursery get financial help.
It is in huge contrast to Princess Charlotte’s nursery which costs around £14,500 per year and has a registration cost where children can be registered from birth.
Princess Charlotte is going to Willcocks Nursery School, which is an outstanding nursery described by Tatler as a ‘hidden gem’.
Westactre was housed in a converted chapel and teaches children aged two to five.
Before George had his first day, a nursery spokesman said: “We are looking forward to welcoming George to our nursery where he will get the same special experience as all our children.”
At the Montessori, all three and four-year-olds get free child care, and two-year-olds only receive free child care if they are in the poorest 40 percent of families.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose to keep George’s first day at nursery a secret and no media were invited.
The couple dropped their son off by themselves and they waited until their son had arrived home from his first day at nursery before they notified the press.
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Prince William's nursery
Prince George’s first day at nursery was a far cry from the experience of Prince William, who had dozens of reporters and photographers watching him as he arrived for his first day at nursery in September 1985.
The Prince wore a stripy jumper, red shorts, and red shoes as he arrived at Mrs Mynors’ Nursery School in Notting Hill in London, which was also a Montessori.
He shared an undeniable resemblance to Prince George on his first day.
Kensington Palace arranged their own formal photocall for the day as Princess Diana and Prince Charles dropped their son off at the London nursery.
The headmistress of the school knelt down to take William’s hand – who was three-years-old at the time.
It was the first time a member of the royal family had attended a nursery outside the confines of Buckingham Palace.
It is understood that Diana had some control over the choice of nursery for her son.
Diana herself went to a nursery in Pimlico that used the Montessori method and she wanted William to be schooled in the same way.
The Montessori method of nursery education places an emphasis on independence, freedom and social development and children are encouraged to develop at their own rate.
It is a method of education which was passed on down through the generations as the nursery George attended was also a Montessori.
The fees of Mrs Mynors’ Nursery School at the time were £780 a year, which is equivalent to £2,200 now.
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Prince Charles' nursery
Charles did not attend nursery, as at the time it was customary for upper-class children to be appointed a governess instead.
Shortly before his fifth birthday, Charles was appointed governess Catherine Peebles who undertook his education between the ages of five and eight.
In 1955 it was announced by Buckingham Palace that Charles would attend school rather than have a private tutor – he was the first heir to be educated in that manner.
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Miss Peebles accompanied Charles to Hill House – a preparatory school in West London.
Charles then attended two of his father’s formal schools, Cheam Preparatory School in Berkshire where he was a boarded, followed by Gordonstoun in the north-east of Scotland.
