It was a milestone moment for Prince Louis as he finally joined his older brother and sister for his first day at school.
The four-year-old looked smart in his school uniform as he embarked on his first day at Lambrook School in Berkshire yesterday and was dropped off by his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Like all parents, his proud mum and dad may have been apprehensive about how their youngest child would be feeling about his new start. But it appeared he did not need any encouragement at all - not least from his dad Prince William.
A clip of Louis, along with his parents and Prince George and Princess Charlotte, shows the family-of-five walking into the school to meet their new headmaster.
Louis clutches mum Kate with his right hand with William walking beside him on his left.
But when Wills offers his youngest son his hand, Louis doesn't react and keeps looking straight ahead - leaving his dad hanging.
After a few seconds, the Duke admits defeat and gives the youngster a protective stroke on the head before they eventually meet with headmaster Jonathan Perry.
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"Welcome to Lambrook," Mr Perry told the children. "It's lovely to have you with us. We’re very excited for the year ahead."
Shaking them each by the hand in turn, he asked "Are you excited?" with all three chorusing "Yes".
William remarked "We’re looking forward to it," adding the children had "lots of questions".
Mr Perry's wife Jenny, who works in the pastoral team, was waiting in the doorway and greeted them with "Welcome back to Lambrook", with William quipping "With all the gang".
It is the first time all three siblings have attended school together, with Louis starting his education in pre-prep and his older siblings joining the prep as new starters.
The family have settled into their new home down the road at Adelaide Cottage ready for the start of the school year and to be closer to the Queen who now lives permanently at Windsor Castle.
A royal source said the Cambridge children were particularly excited to all be going to the same school for the first time, adding: "They're really excited about starting a new school together, and I think mum and dad are too."
The future king and queen had thought "long and hard" over the issue with one palace insider saying their "overriding focus being to provide as 'normal' a life as possible for their children before beginning their own royal lives."
However, the Cambridges will also fork out eye-watering fees for the children’s new school, spending in excess of £53,000 a year on their private education.
Fees cost £4,389 a term for Prince Louis, who is four, £6,448 per term for Charlotte, seven, and £6,999 per term for nine-year-old George, until pupils are 13.
