17 adorable photos of royal children on their first day at school

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children will be among the thousands of children preparing to go back to school over the coming week.

The family marked a big milestone earlier this year as Prince William and Kate's youngest child, Prince Louis, started at Willcocks Nursery School in April.

It coincided with his third birthday on 23 April and the couple shared a new photo of their beaming son posing proudly with a red balance bike, before he headed off for his first day.

As students return to their classrooms up and down the country, HELLO! takes a look at the most adorable photos of young royals on their first day at school.  

READ: Everything you need to know about Prince Louis' nursery

WATCH: William and Kate drop Princess Charlotte off for her first day at school

Princess Charlotte 

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 £6,305-a-term school and was shown the way to her new Reception class. Prince William told Helen Haslem, head of the lower school, that his daughter was "very excited" about her first day at school.

MORE: 9 cheekiest balcony moments from royal children at Buckingham Palace

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Prince George

A nervous-looking George was dropped off at the school gates by his father William when he started at Thomas's in September 2017. 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.

MORE: Why Prince George had a different start to his education than Charlotte and Louis

Prince Harry and Prince William

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

Princess Eugenie

While Princess Beatrice looked a little unsure about her first day of school in 1994, her sister Princess Eugenie was all smiles and eager to start her lessons. The royals' mum Sarah Ferguson took charge of the school bags, one of which had a 'Beatrice York' label printed on the front.

MORE: Sarah, Duchess of York shares sweet memory from Princess Eugenie's first day of nursery

Princess Beatrice

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's elder daughter Princess Beatrice is seen arriving for lessons at Upton House Nursery School in Windsor in 1991.

Princess Alexia of the Netherlands

Princess Alexia chose to cycle to class on her first day of school in 2017. Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander's then 12-year-old daughter was pictured leaving her home in Wassenaar, an affluent suburb of The Hague, to go to the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet school. Dressed down in jeans, a T-shirt and a hoodie, Alexia smiled for photographers and gave a wave as she left her family home, Villa Eikenhorst.

MORE: 12 times royals looked super-smart in school uniform: Prince Harry to Princess Charlotte

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark

Denmark's adorable twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, six, attended their first day of school in August 2017. Doting parents Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark dropped off their children at Tranegård School in the Hellerup district of Copenhagen, where the twins started Grade O. 

With excited smiles and backpacks full of essentials, Vincent and Josephine set off from the palace, posing for photographers in the courtyard before their big day.

MORE: Royal children school uniform buys: From Princess Charlotte's shoes to Prince George's backpack

Princess Athena of Denmark

Just days before in 2017, their cousin Princess Athena also started school. Princess Marie of Denmark's then five-year-old daughter started her first day at Joseph Sisters' School in Ordrup, Copenhagen. The little girl, dressed in a pretty pink dress, gave her mum a big hug as they prepared to drive to the school.

Princess Isabella of Denmark

Four years before her twin siblings in 2013, Princess Isabella was also standing in the palace forecourt, preparing to set off for her first day of lessons at Tranegård School. The young royal gave a wave and toothy grin at royal photographers as she left the palace with Prince Frederik and Princess Mary.

Princesses Leonor and Sofia of Spain

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 hand as they started their first day at 'big school'.

Princess Estelle of Sweden

Estelle, the 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.

Princess Ingrid of Norway

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

Princess Ariane of the Netherlands

Princess Ariane had her big sisters Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia on hand to support her when she started school in 2011. The youngest of Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's daughters was attending the Bloemcampschool in Wassenaar, The Hague, where her sisters were also enrolled.

Princess Amalia of the Netherlands

And back in 2007, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander's firstborn, Princess 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.

Princess Aiko of Japan

Here, Princess Aiko of Japan is seen arriving for the welcoming ceremony for pupils enrolled at Gakushuin Kindergarten in Tokyo. Aiko, four, was brought to school by her parents Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito in 2006. 

Prince Gabriel and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium

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