Royal fans are still processing the surprise news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the UK, but while the world waits for the Duke and Duchess' big return, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are preparing to start their new school.
Upping sticks from the pristine pavements of Montecito in California and relocating to the cobbled streets of the UK will come with an endless list of cultural changes for the young royals, and that extends to the minutiae of their daily school routine.
© InstagramConsultancy Director at The Good Schools Guide, Grace Moody-Stuart, explains that academically, the UK schooling system is much more "rigorous" than that in the US, and Archie and Lilibet are in for longer, more structured school days which run from early in the morning to sometimes as late as six in the evening. Private preparatory schools in the US usually only run until 3:00 pm.
Their days will traditionally start with academics, with the afternoons kept for sports, the arts and what Grace describes as "outward bound" learning, where the children are outside in nature.
"It starts early in the morning, and then there's plenty of time for activities, sport, music in the afternoon. The school days are long. Instead of picking up a child at 3:30 pm, which you might do in a primary school, you might be picking them up at 5:00 pm or even 6 pm," Grace explains.
© Instagram"A lot of pupils talk about climbing trees and building camps and going on expeditions in the woods," she adds. "People value that kind of education, the holistic education that combines not just academia but also sport and creativity and the arts and music and drama."
Mornings filled with hymns
If you went to school in the UK, you will likely remember daily hymns and prayers during assemblies, brings the whole school together each morning. This, however, is something that isn't traditional in the US, where schools only gather en masse a few times a year, often at what is called a 'pep rally.'
So one of the biggest changes at school for Archie and Lilibet will be their daily assemblies with their fellow year groups.
© Getty Images"My sons' experience at prep schools is that the day starts with assembly, which - at many prep schools, entails an address from the headmaster or headmistress, singing a hymn and listening to a prayer or reciting the Lord's Prayer. There's also registration where children sit in silence to hear their name read out," one parent told HELLO!.
Meanwhile, one former student added that her mornings at prep school were "full of hymns."
Archie and Lilibet will be expected to 'catch up' with the UK's more 'rigorous' curriculum
Archie and Lilibet will also have to get used to a more rigorous school day, as there is a significant jump in the expectations put on young students in the UK.
"I do know that academically [US schools] are a bit behind," Grace added. Our system is much more structured from a very early age. So, when people move from the US, they tend to have to catch up a bit with the English curriculum."
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetThis perspective was reinforced by one parent whose children attended a British preparatory school. They explained the literacy standards at elite institutions are notably advanced and told HELLO! that students in her son's Year 2 class were already reading complex titles like Harry Potter, which is well above their reading age at six years old.
"I was taken aback at the exceptionally high reading level in my son's class, with most of his year group starting school at age four with the ability to read," they told HELLO!.
"While they went through the usual Biff and Chip books, as most children do, it didn't take long before they were onto texts well above their expected reading age, with children in Year 2 taking on Harry Potter!"
Longer school weeks for Archie and Lilibet
Unlike their US schooling, while living in the UK, Archie and Lilibet's school timetable will be as close to 24/7 as possible, with the siblings likely to be expected to attend school on a Saturday.
"On a Saturday, Meghan and Harry will be going to watch Archie and Lilibet playing in a match against another school, and those sorts of things are very important," Grace said.
© Instagram"The competitive sports might be on a Saturday afternoon. They might be asked to go in for a play rehearsal on a Saturday afternoon."
One ex-prep school pupil said that Saturday school consisted of normal lessons until midday, after which the afternoon was spent playing sports, which was something she particularly enjoyed.
"I didn't enjoy having to attend lessons on Saturday morning, but I really loved the sports at school, and following our Saturday lessons we'd play sports matches in the afternoons. Most days I wouldn't get home until seven or eight in the evening, and I would be shattered.
"As well as Saturday afternoons, I would play sports at least four times in the school week. I really hope my son has a chance to do the same because it was such an important part of my education."
