Princess Charlotte and her siblings are all back at Lambrook for the new school year. The royal children have had a complete summer break, visiting their grandparents and having plenty of fun. Meanwhile, as they grow older, they will learn more and more about royal life and the traditions that come with it.
As many might be familiar with, royal traditions go back centuries. With them also come many rules and guidelines they must follow, for example, how to eat and behave.
But some rules are more strict than others, and one concerning Charlotte and her siblings could seem cruel. Sadly, it’s their grandfather, King Charles III, who will decide whether or not he will use it – even though we have a tough time seeing it happen.
When Princess Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015, William and Kate didn’t use the same name-picking strategy as George. However, choosing the right name was still as tough as the first time. It reportedly took William and Kate two days to decide what to call their beloved daughter, spending an entire morning discussing the final choice with their families.
Princess Charlotte
In the end, she was named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. Charlotte is a homage to Charles, as Charlotte is the female version of his name. Moreover, it is also Kate’s sister, Pippa’s middle name. Elizabeth is, of course, a tribute to the late queen. However, it has a greater significance in the family, as it was also Kate Middleton’s great-grandmother’s name.
The name Diana doesn’t need an explanation. Of course, it’s a tribute to the young girl’s late grandmother and William’s mother, Princess Diana, who tragically passed in 1997.
“It reminds us of how much Diana still means to William and the memory of his mother. The queen perhaps feels that Diana hasn’t been acknowledged enough, and this is a wonderful way of doing so,” Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty Magazine, told Vanity Fair in 2015.
William has paid tribute to his mother in several other ways, including his mother’s diamond and sapphire engagement ring, which he presented to Kate.
Diana’s close friend Simone Simmons said that the late princess would be “over the moon” because Charlotte got to carry her name. William had promised his mother that when he was king, Diana “would have her HRH restored,” and “this is his way of doing it,” she added.
While some argued that Charlotte would be named Diana as a first name, it would have been quite a heavy burden. The fact that she now has it as her third name is for the best, Richard Kay, a royal expert and close friend of Diana, stated.
“Had it been the first name, I think it would have been terrible for the child,” he told Vanity Fair. “There would have been constant comparisons with Diana, and William wouldn’t have wanted that. This way, it’s a tribute to his mother and a way of ensuring Diana is always remembered.”
Princess Charlotte – where does she go to school?
Princess Charlotte has turned eight, and by now, she most likely understands that her family isn’t like anyone else’s. The young princess has already been attending some exceptional royal events, including Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, the coronation of her grandfather, King Charles, and the Trooping of Colour celebration at Buckingham Palace.
Even though the royal “duties” for Charlotte have been plenty in the last year, it’s time to focus on what’s most important: school.
When Prince William, Kate, and their children moved to Windsor and their new home of Adelaide Cottage, it was also time for the kids to change schools. Previously, Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended Thomas’ Battersea school, while Prince Louis spent his days at Willcocks Nursery School. Now, all three children attend Lambrook School, located only a 15-minute walk from George, Charlotte, and Louis’s home.
Before leaving London, William and Kate visited several top schools in the Windsor area. They finally decided on Lambrook, which has plenty of fun extra-curricular activities for the students to engage in.
The school – which has a tuition of £21,000-a-year per student per year – has a 42-acre cricket ground, rugby and football pitches, an art building, and even a golf course at its grounds.
It should go without saying that Lambrook is a prominent school with high tuition fees. Of course, the Royal Family can afford the expense, but that doesn’t mean William and Kate want their children to become spoiled.
At Lambrook, if pupils want to go on a school trip, they have to raise the money themselves and not get it from their parents. It’s those values that the Prince and Princess of Wales want to instill in their children growing up, thus helping to keep them grounded.
“It will be all or nothing”
While at the school, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis can engage in various activities, including joining the debate team, horse riding, and caring for the school’s pigs and chickens.
Princess Charlotte is undoubtedly enjoying her time at Lambrook, and a good thing is that her brother is always close by. However, in a few years, that could change. Some months ago, George, William, and Kate were spotted looking around Eton College. Prince William and Prince Harry attended the prestigious boarding school in the past, and soon, it might be the young prince’s turn.
Eton’s tuition is around £46,000 ($59,000) a year. Though Prince George won’t join the school until he turns 13, children have to be registered for the school during the year that they turn ten, according to the school’s website.
Meanwhile, royal expert Jennie Bond claims the Eton visit could also tell us something about Princess Charlotte’s future. According to her, William and Kate wouldn’t send only one of their children to boarding school.
“I imagine it will be all or nothing. In other words, all three will go away to school, or none of them,” Bond told OK!.
“The choice of school for the children will tell us a lot about William and Catherine. So far, they’ve been such hands-on parents. And, personally, I think it would be sad to see them send their children away to boarding school.”
The former BBC royal correspondent added, “I would applaud a decision to keep them as day pupils at schools nearby their home. But I think both William and Catherine were happy at boarding school. I suppose it’s what they know and perhaps they will want to pass this experience on to their children.”
At home, Prince William and Princess Kate have plenty of work raising their three children while performing their royal duties. Of course, they have the help of a nanny, but when it comes to dropping off and picking up their children from school, the royal couple instead do it themselves.
Why Princess Charlotte could miss out on ‘Duchess’ title
Prince George is most likely already aware of what the future holds for him. At the same time, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis’ future will differ slightly, even though they are projected to become working royals with their elder brother.
Today, Princess Charlotte is third in the line to the throne, after her father, Prince William, and elder brother, Prince George. However, even though her royal status is very prominent, she might miss out on one royal title that her brothers will receive when – and if – they marry.
Prince George and Prince Louis will receive a Duke title no matter who they marry.
Queen Elizabeth gave duke titles to Prince William and Prince Harry on their wedding days. Prince William became the Duke of Cambridge (making Kate the Duchess of Cambridge), while Prince Harry was titled the Duke of Sussex (making Meghan the Duchess of Sussex).
While Princess Charlotte will receive more titles as she grows up, she won’t get a dukedom as a birthright. In fact, the rules state that Princess Charlotte has to marry a duke to become a Duchess like her mother. However, the added amendment to the Succession to the Crown Act in 2013, which stated that a younger male air couldn’t overtake older females automatically, could change that.
Princess Charlotte is the first proof of that, as she is ahead of her younger brother Louis in the line of succession. Moreover, royal historian Marlene Koenig states that the amendment will affect what titles Princess Charlotte “can” receive.
“Now, with gender-equal succession, I think it would be more possible to grant a peerage to Charlotte,” she told Hello! Magazine.
“Prince Louis will get one when he marries, so it would only be fair if Charlotte was named a Duchess on her wedding day. She and her children will be ahead of Louis’ line in the succession.”
Meanwhile, one day, there is one title Charlotte most likely will receive that her brothers can not. Today, Princess Anne has the title of Princess Royal. It is traditionally given to the monarch’s eldest daughter. Queen Elizabeth gave Princess Anne the title in 1987 at age 36. It must be awarded and can’t be inherited.
King Charles can confiscate Princess Charlotte’s toys because of strange royal rule
“It is a title that remains for life, so Princess Charlotte will have to wait at least until the death of the current Princess Royal,” royal author Duncan Larcombe told Town and Country.
Prince William and Kate clearly want to give their children as normal childhood as possible. That includes, of course, many fun toys and stuffed animals for them to play with. The Prince and Princess of Wales have indeed bought many stuffed animals and other toys over the years, but the young children have also been getting them as presents from well-wishers and other members of the public.
When on engagements or walkabouts, it’s common for the royal family to receive many gifts. However, even though it might be a teddy bear suitable for Charlotte or any of her brothers, the children don’t get to decide if they can keep it. So, who does? King Charles.
According to the Daily Record, a strict rule denies Princess Charlotte, her siblings, or William and Kate, for that matter, the right to “own” gifts that are presented to them. According to the news outlet, they have a seven-page handbook regarding receiving gifts, for example, what they can accept, what they must return, and so on.
In other words, a teddy bear given to, for example, William and Kate to be given to Charlotte is not theirs per the rule. It automatically belongs to King Charles.
“Gifts are defined as official when received during an official engagement or duty or in connection with the official role or duties of a member of The Royal Family,” the rule guidance states
Gifts has to pass a rigorous security check
“Official gifts are not the private property of the Member of The Royal Family who receives them but are instead received in an official capacity in the course of official duties in support of, and on behalf of The King.”
So, King Charles owns all the gifts given to royal family members, per the rule. However, in reality, we believe that he is a very loving grandpa and makes sure that his grandchildren will receive these beautiful gifts.
However, before a gift can be handed over to the royal children, they must undergo a strict security test. Firstly, they are registered on an official “gift receive form,” the Daily Record reports. Secondly, the security test proceeds and it can be handed over if it passes inspection.
At the same time, for any gift valued under £150, the royal family members can hand it to an aide or give it to any charity they like.
