Duchess Misses George's Big Day

Prince George of Cambridge has started school at Thomas's Battersea today. 

The Duchess of Cambridge was too sick with extreme morning sickness to drop George at school, but Prince William escorted his son to meet Head of the Lower School, Helen Haslem.


George will be known simply as George Cambridge and will be in a Reception class of 22 pupils.

As more photos surface, I will update this page.

George's First Day At School

Prince George begins formal schooling today when he joins the Reception class at Thomas's Battersea. 

Four year old George had attended Westacre Montessori preschool in Norfolk near his family's home Anmer Hall since January 2016. 

It is hoped that both parents will drop George off at school on his first day, but due to extreme morning sickness Catherine may not be able to. 

Headmaster Simon O'Malley includes the following passage in his welcome page on the school website:

"Whilst we are proud of our record of senior school entrance and scholarship successes, we place a greater emphasis on a set of core values, which include kindness, courtesy, confidence, humility and learning to be givers, not takers. We hope that our pupils will leave this school with a strong sense of social responsibility, set on a path to become net contributors to society and to flourish as conscientious and caring citizens of the world."

Term fees for the first stage of three years are 5868 pounds. Like the other 560 students, George will be dressed in the school uniform of navy and red which is available at John Lewis. 

We look forward to seeing a few photos of this very important event in anyone's life -royal or not.

New Cambridge Baby On The Way!

Kensington Palace has announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child.

The Duchess is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which is an extreme form of morning sickness. Catherine suffered with this condition in her first two pregnancies and was hospitalised during the early stages of Prince George's pregnancy.

The Duchess has had a to cancel a planned engagement this week. Catherine and William are due to take Prince George to his first day of school on Thursday but it is unclear whether the Duchess will be well enough to attend.

Congratulations to the Cambridge family!

Read the press release in full ↓ pic.twitter.com/vDTgGD2aGF

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 4, 2017

George's Big Week

Prince George of Cambridge will start "big school" this week when he starts at Thomas's Battersea.

George will begin in the Reception year with about 60 other children. Thomas's is a school for boys and girls aged between 4 and 13 and one of several London day schools in this family owned chain. 

There is a big focus on music, art, drama and sport but all areas of the curriculum are covered. 

Kindness is considered just as important as academic success at Thomas's and this is a lovely reflection of the attitude of Duke and Duchess. 

Kensington Palace has said that William and Catherine will walk George through the school gates on Thursday. 

William's 1st day Wetherby January 1987

Charlotte Loves To Dance

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge loves dancing her parents revealed on Wednesday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were visiting the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.

The garden has been specially planted with the favourite flowers of the princes' late mother Diana, Princess of Wales. It was 20 years on Thursday since the Princess was killed in a car accident in Paris at the age of 36. Her sons were 15 and 12 at the time.

Representatives of charities close to the heart of the late Princess were present. Director of the English National Ballet, Tamara Rojo was speaking with Catherine about dance when the Duchess revealed that Princess Charlotte is an avid dancer, "She absolutely loves it."

Charlotte who is also an keen horse rider seems to be a very busy and active two year old. Growing up at the family's country home Amner Hall has no doubt been a wonderful thing for Charlotte and big brother George. 

The Cambridges will now be based primarily at their Kensington Palace apartment. Prince George will be starting school this coming Thursday in Battersea, London and William and Catherine are stepping up their royal roles as the Queen and Prince Philip age. Charlotte too is thought to be starting nursery school later this year.

New Poignant Photo

Kensington Palace posted this photo on their twitter account today. A new shot and very sweet. The boys along with the Duchess visited the Sunken Garden at the Palace today.

Today The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry will pay tribute to their mother Diana, Princess of Wales. pic.twitter.com/zkfhfPxcsY

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) August 30, 2017

Diana's Dresses

There is so much comment surrounding the 20th anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales's death on 31st August. 

Although this blog is a chronicle of Diana's grandchildren of today and possibly of the future, I was a fan from the age of 10. So I recently travelled to London and saw the Diana exhibition at Kensington Palace and the gorgeous sunken garden planted in white to honour her. 

Here are a few of the iconic dresses I saw on display. The one that I found most moving was the Bill Pashley designed brown tweed outfit that the new princess wore to a photocall at Balmoral during her honeymoon. 

For me, it brought back all the memories of the early marriage, babies, walkabouts, Shy Di and adoring crowds. Waiting every morning for the daily papers to see if "Di" had been on an engagement the day before. 

I saw the princess in Australia many times and a few times in London. I was lucky enough to shake her hand and have a quick chat in Melbourne. I felt her death like that of a friend although of course she wasn't. But that is the connection she made with the everyday person. Which is why she was so loved and mourned with such sadness.

Of course, there were stunning evening gowns ( Elvis dress and the Travolta dress!) and later dresses that the princess wore in those Mario Testino photos. 

By then the glow of the early years had gone but a new, confident woman was emerging to take on politically fraught causes such as landmine eradication. Prince Harry has picked up that cause. 

Here are some photos from the exhibition. Also shots of the sunken garden that William, Catherine and Harry will visit on the 30th August.

Buckingham Palace Tribute To Diana

The Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace State Rooms features a wonderful display of Diana, Princess of Wales's study and belongings. I visited on the first day of opening and can thoroughly recommend.

There will be a special display at the Summer Opening of #BuckinghamPalace as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales: pic.twitter.com/5PRi9Hamuk

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 21, 2017

Summer In Balmoral

William at Balmoral 1983

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and children have been spending some of their summer holiday at Balmoral. 

 The Queen's beloved Scottish highland retreat is where the royal family gather each year. The Duke and Duchess attended a church service at Crathie Kirk with other members of the family last Sunday.

William, Catherine and Prince Harry will be back at Kensington Palace in time for a special visit to the Palace's Sunken Garden. The garden has been transformed this year in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. The 20th anniversary of Diana's death falls on 31st August.

copyright: blog author

William and Harry had organised for the princess's favourite flowers to be planted in white with pink accents. The warm spring meant the flowers bloomed early. I visited the Palace and garden only a few weeks ago and it was still stunning.

Diana used to walk through the garden during her many years living at Kensington Palace and came to know the gardeners. Some of these staff members will be present on the 30th when Diana's sons and daughter-in-law Catherine will visit. 

I also visited the Diana Her Fashion Story exhibition at the palace and will write a separate post about this wonderfully exciting event for Diana fans.

copyright: blog author

Happy Birthday George

Kensington Palace has released a gorgeous photo of Prince George to mark his 4th birthday today. The portrait was taken at the end of June by Getty's Chris Jackson at the Cambridge apartment at the palace.

The little prince will start formal school in September at Thomas's Battersea. 

A birthday party will be held on Sunday.

Happy Birthday!