Why Princess Charlotte could be back at school before Prince George

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could soon be back on the school run – but only for one of their three children. New government plans revealed on Sunday night mean that Princess Charlotte could be back in class within weeks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that primary schools could reopen from June 1st 2020 in England – if the ongoing public health emergency doesn’t get worse before then. However, only three year groups would go back on that date, including reception or the very youngest pupils in a school. That would include Princess Charlotte who began her formal education at Thomas’ School in Battersea last September.

Prince George, who is in Year Two, wouldn’t go back at the same time. It’s not clear yet when his year group would return although the government has said it hopes all primary school children would return at some point ahead of the summer holidays which start in July.

It is understood that all schools would be expected to stagger pupil attendance with limited numbers in for set times, all observing social distancing and with frequent hand washing as part of class time.

The return is part of the government’s latest announcements on its lockdown strategy. However, it is still dependent on the pandemic not getting worse in the UK. Any increase in infection rate between now and the end of May could see a change to the plans.

George and Charlotte are currently being home schooled by William and Kate at Anmer Hall in Norfolk. The Duchess of Cambridge has revealed that she kept their classes going during the Easter holidays and that six year old Prince George isn’t happy that his sister, who turned five at the start of May, has been set fun challenges like making spider sandwiches while he has been given literacy work to do by their school.