The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have once again found themselves among thousands of other parents across the nation, who are educating their children at home amid the UK's third lockdown.
On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all schools - except for the children of key workers and vulnerable children - will remain closed from 5 January until at least February half-term amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
This has meant that Prince George and Princess Charlotte's return to Thomas's Battersea after the Christmas break has been delayed. Prince George, seven, is currently in Year 3 at the private London school, while Charlotte, five, is now in Year 1.
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During the first lockdown, Prince William and Kate spoke about the challenges of homeschooling, with the royal couple admitting that they kept eldest children in the dark about the Easter holidays as they continued to home-school via online platforms back in April
Giving an insight into how the family spent their Easter, Kate admitted she felt "very mean" for continuing lessons from their home at Anmer Hall. She told the BBC's Tina Daheley: "Don't tell the children, we've actually kept it going through the holidays. I feel very mean." Prince William described home-schooling as "fun", while Kate added it was "challenging" ensuring their children maintain their education while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
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The royal mum-of-three added: "The children have got such stamina I don't know how. Honestly, you get to the end of the day and you write down the list of all the things that you've done in that day. So you pitch a tent, take the tent down again, cook, bake. You get to the end of the day - they have had a lovely time - but it is amazing how much you can cram into one day that's for sure."
The royal couple with their three children
In June, George and Charlotte had returned to school for the first time in ten weeks as a result of the first lockdown. Doting parents William and Kate haven't shied away from opening up about their experience, sharing some fascinating insights into their family's lockdown last year.
During an appearance on That Peter Crouch Podcast in July, Prince William admitted homeschooling was not his forte. Asked what he had learned in lockdown, the royal shared: "Probably that my patience is a lot shorter than I thought it was… and that my wife has a lot of patience… I was a bit embarrassed about my maths knowledge - I can't do Year 2 Maths!"
Kate, meanwhile, revealed in May during an appearance on This Morning, that George wasn't happy about the fact his little sister was getting more exciting school projects. She said: "George gets very upset because he wants to do Charlotte's projects. Because making things like spider sandwiches is far cooler than doing literacy work!"
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Cambridges at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall
The royal children are among several pupils who are being taught the rest of their curriculum through online learning platforms. HELLO!'s Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey explained: "While details around the children's schooling will always remain private, HELLO! understands that Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be taught their lessons through online learning platforms. We know that education is extremely important to the Duchess of Cambridge through her early year's work and no doubt, Kate will be doing everything to ensure that her children have the resources they need during this period."
Despite being made to learn remotely, Prince William and Kate might offer their own pearls of wisdom and teach George and Charlotte themselves. During his third year at Thomas's school, George has lessons in French, Computing, Art, Music, Drama, Ballet, Science, History, Geography, Maths, English and PE. The young royal will no doubt be able to lean towards his father for guidance in geography and history. William graduated with A-levels in geography, biology and history of art alongside 12 GCSEs. The heir to the throne also attended The University of St Andrews in Scotland, graduating in 2005 with a 2:1 in geography.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrincess Charlotte and Prince George are pupils at Thomas's school in Battersea
Elsewhere, Charlotte - who started at the £18,915-a-year school in September 2019 - has been learning French, Computing, Art, Music, Drama and Ballet, taught by specialist teachers. The two royal siblings will be able to learn art and maths by Kate, who received two As in those subjects for her A-levels. The Duchess achieved 11 GCSEs at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne before she studied at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where she also scored a B in English. After taking a Gap Year, Kate then went to the University of St Andrews in 2001, where she met her future husband. She graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in History of Art.
Other learning skills might include cooking! Doting mum Kate has previously revealed her love for making dishes, so it's likely that she will get her children to help around the kitchen too. During her 2018 visit to St Luke's Community Centre where she helped prepare food for their upcoming Commonwealth Big Lunch, Kate confessed that both Charlotte and George love making pizza dough. Speaking to a member, Yolanda from Bolivia, Kate said: "I've done that with George and Charlotte – making pizza dough. They love it because they can get their hands messy." She continued: "I was just saying how I really enjoy making pizza dough with George and Charlotte because they like getting their hands messy."
© Photo: Getty ImagesMaria Teresa Turrion Borrallo with Prince George
The royal couple will also receive extra help from their amazing nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. Maria was trained at Norland College, the prestigious childcare providers who have trained nannies for Britain's elite since 1892. To become a Norland Nanny you need to undertake a three-year full-time BA (Hons) degree in Early Years Development and Learning. The royal nanny is from Palencia and has been teaching her young charges a few words here and there. It was previously reported that when George was four, he could count up to ten in Spanish, while Charlotte has managed to pick up a few words.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe young royals will no doubt be keeping their parents busy
Meanwhile, the British royals are no strangers to being home-schooled as private tutoring has long been a royal tradition. Both William and Kate can always call on the help of the Queen for advice. The monarch (and her sister, the late Princess Margaret) was educated at home before she received private lessons from the vice provost of Eton, Henry Marten – she has actually never sat an academic exam in her life. "The Queen's father had disliked school and her mother thought it was more important to have fun," professor Kate Williams, author of Young Elizabeth, previously told Good Housekeeping. "Unlike her father, the Queen was and is very bright and had an appetite for learning as well as a razor-sharp memory."
However, the Queen and Prince Philip made sure their children received the best education outside the walls of Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles was a pupil at Gordonstoun, while Princess Anne attended Benenden School in Kent. Just like their older brother and father, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward also studied at Gordonstoun in Scotland.
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