Best royal back to school photos – including Prince George's heartwarming moment with dad Prince William

The youngest of the Wales children walked happily alongside his mum Kate as he arrived for his first day in his reception class at Lambrook in September 2022. 

Louis sweetly held his mother's hand as the Prince and Princess of Wales accompanied their three children for a 90-minute settling-in session. According to a source, William was seen stroking his youngest son's hair as they walked to the school entrance. 

Louis was starting in the Pre-Prep section of the school while his older siblings, George and Charlotte, attended the Prep department. 

For their first day, which marked the first time the siblings were all at the same school, the Waleses met with the headmaster, Jonathan Perry, and shook his hand.

"Are you excited?" the headmaster was said to have asked the children, who replied: "Yes". William told the headmaster that his children had "lots of questions".

Prince William and Kate were there to drop Princess Charlotte off for her first day at school in September 2019.

The then four-year-old joined her big brother George at the then £6,305-a-term school and was shown the way to her new Reception class. William told Helen Haslem, head of the lower school, that his daughter was "very excited" about her first day at school.

''How are you? Did you have a nice summer?'' Kate asked the headmaster, who previously greeted Charlotte's brother George on his first day two years earlier. 

Charlotte, who began her time at Thomas's with half days, was then joined by her parents to see her new classroom and meet her new teacher.

A nervous-looking George was dropped off at the school gates by his father William when he started at Thomas's in September 2017. Kensington Palace confirmed the young royal would be known to his classmates as George Cambridge.

Sadly, Kate had to miss her son's first day as she was suffering from severe morning sickness when pregnant with her youngest child, Prince Louis, at the time. George previously attended Westacre Montessori near his family's home in Norfolk.

Four-year-old George looked so adorable in his school uniform, which included navy shorts, a blue V-neck jumper emblazoned with the school's emblem, a light blue polo shirt, blue socks and black shoes. 

George held onto his father's hand as they were greeted at the school gates by the Head of Lower School, Helen Haslem. George was pictured shaking hands with the headmaster.

The royal brothers scored an A+ for making a very memorable entrance at Wetherby Preparatory School in Notting Hill, London, in 1989. 

Harry, who was about to turn five, was starting his first day of school, while big brother William helped show him the ropes. 

The siblings looked adorable in matching shorts, blazers, caps and long socks. While William carried a backpack, Harry was kitted out with a soft cloth bag.

Ken Wharfe, who was Prince William's bodyguard when he started at the £6,865-a-term school, previously told HELLO!: "They were certainly very happy times for William and of course his brother."

Diana was often seen dropping her sons off to the preparatory school over the years. It was during their time there that Diana famously competed in a race during the school's sports day in 1989. 

The school has a plethora of famous alumni, including Hugh Grant and Romeo and Cruz Beckham. 

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's elder daughter, Princess Beatrice, was seen arriving for lessons at Upton House Nursery School in Windsor in 1991.

The young royal looked adorable in her school uniform, which featured a navy dress, knee-high socks and a distinguished hat. 

Both Beatrice and Eugenie attended Upton House until 1995. Beatrice then went on to study at Coworth Park and St George's Schools.

The royal has spoken candidly about her struggle with dyslexia early on in her school journey. 

"I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was seven, and it was a bit of a struggle to begin with," she said in 2024. "It was a challenge as I began my school career – spelling and reading was something I couldn’t really get my head around. "

While Princess Beatrice looked a little unsure, her sister Princess Eugenie was all smiles and eager to start her lessons on her first day in 1994. 

The royals' mum Sarah Ferguson took charge of the school bags, one of which had a 'Beatrice York' label printed on the front.

Sarah, who enrolled Eugenie in a Montessori nursery in Windsor in 1992, previously opened up to HELLO! about her daughter's first day at the nursery. "I remember her first day very well actually, very well. I was really impressed by the way the school was," she recalled. 

"And I researched, for many years now, Maria Montessori, who started it, and why she thought it was so important to let the child be free enough to describe what they want. And it suited Eugenie, absolutely down to a tee, because she's a very strong character, and I wonder whether her love of History of Art came from an early age. She loves to see something aesthetically. I'm sure it came from her nursery."

King Felipe and Queen Letizia's daughters were like two peas in a pod as they arrived at Colegio Santa María de los Rosales in 2010. 

The royal sisters, who are only one year apart, sweetly held each other's hands as they started their first day at 'big school'.

And now, Sofia is starting her second year of University Studies as a student in Paris. She previously spent the first year of her degree in Political Science and International Relations at the Lisbon campus of Forward College, a private institution affiliated with the University of London. 

While Leonor is starting at Carlos III University of Madrid to begin a four-year programme in Political Science. This next step comes after completing three years in the military.

Princess Estelle, a future queen of Sweden, was her cheery self as she attended a photocall with her parents Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel on her first day of pre-school in August 2014. 

Estelle was adorable with her hair pinned back, and a big broad smile on her face.

Queen Mette-Marit and King Haakon's daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra skipped her way into her first day of classes at Janslokka Skole in August 2010.

When they arrived at the school, Mette-Marit followed Norwegian custom by shaking hands with principal Else Beitnes Johansen. 

The principal was then said to emphasise the importance of protecting Ingrid Alexandra from "unnecessary attention" to ensure "as normal an education as possible."

And back in 2007, Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander's firstborn, Princess Catharina-Amalia, showed no signs of nerves as she started her first day of school.

The little girl gave her mum a huge hug before saying goodbye.

The future Dutch queen completed her BSc degree in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam in 2025. She has now started a new degree in Dutch Law at the same university.

Prince Gabriel and Princess Elisabeth couldn't have looked any cuter as they arrived at Sint-Jan-Berchmans school in Brussels with their parents King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in 2006.

Gabriel was just three and beginning his education while his sister Elisabeth was five. The two siblings adorably held hands for the first day of term. 

Future Danish king Christian was full of enthusiasm as he left for his first day at Tranegard School in 2011 with his parents, then Crown Prince Frederik and then Crown Princess Mary. 

The Crown Prince, who graduated from high school in June 2024, began his Lieutenant's training course last year.