Princess Charlotte to start nursery school in January

Youngest royal to attend Willcocks Nursery School in west London

Princess Charlotte has been enrolled in a nursery on the doorstep of Kensington Palace, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have revealed.

The two-year-old princess will be among the January intake of Willcocks Nursery School, a fee-paying nursery within Kensington’s Holy Trinity Church.

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The nursery is located just ten minutes’ walk away from Kensington Palace, and across the river from Thomas’s school in Battersea, where Charlotte’s older brother George is a reception pupil.

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Run by headmistress Lavinia Taylor and five other full-time female staff, Willcocks describes itself as “a traditional nursery school” with an emphasis on “high standards, excellence and good manners”.

High society magazine Tatler chose Willcocks as one of its best nurseries, with one mother telling the magazine the atmosphere at the school was “gentle, which is what you want for young ones”.

A typical day for pupils begins with a hymn and a prayer, followed by typical nursery activities such as painting, educational games, show and tell sessions and playtime in the garden. Part-time teachers visit the school to provide early coaching in dance, sport, music and French.

Parents pay £3,050 per term for morning sessions at the nursery, while shorter afternoon sessions cost £1,800 per term.

Prince William and Kate Middleton kick off Polish visit

18 July

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton started the first full day of their tour of Poland and Germany today, but the eyes of the world are on their children Princess Charlotte and big brother Prince George.

Following the success of their appearances in Canada last year, two-year-old Charlotte and George, who turns four on 22 July, have joined their parents in Warsaw.

After their appearance at the airport yesterday, the children stayed with their Spanish nanny, Maria Turrion, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met World War II veterans and attended a garden party at Lazienki Park to mark the Queen’s birthday.

The couple's five-day trip, made at the request of the Foreign Office, is seen as an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties with Europe.

Timed to coincide with the opening of the next round of Brexit talks, the tour will see the royals also visit Gdansk, Berlin, Heidelberg and Hamburg, reports the Daily Mirror.

Princess Charlotte to be flower girl at Pippa's wedding

9 November

Princess Charlotte and Prince George will star at Pippa Middleton's wedding next year, according to the Daily Mail.

Charlotte, who will have just turned two by the time the big day arrives, will act as a flower girl, while three-year-old George will be a page boy.

Their aunt Pippa is to marry hedge fund manager James Matthews – brother of Made in Chelsea's Spencer Matthews – on 20 May next year. The royal children have already proved themselves capable of handling high-profile events after accompanying their parents on a tour of Canada in October.

Unlike the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who commandeered Westminster Abbey when they married in 2011, Pippa is reported to want a slightly more low-key affair. She will tie the knot at a church close to her family home in Berkshire.

The reception will be in a marquee in the Middleton parents' garden, "with posh Portaloos brought in for the occasion", says the Mail, adding that designer Giles Deacon looks likely to be making Pippa's wedding dress after he was spotted entering the couple's £17m London residence.

The pair announced their engagement in July after rumours surfaced that James had proposed on a romantic trip to the Lake District.

Royals head home after Canada tour

3 October

It may have been her first royal tour, but Princess Charlotte was a natural as she embarked on her first official engagement alongside her family on their visit to Canada.

The highlight of the trip for Charlotte and her elder brother Prince George – as well as media photographers eager to catch a glimpse of the toddlers – was a traditional garden party held for the children of military families in the grounds of Victoria's Government House.

The pair were spotted playing with balloons together. George also was pictured playing with a bubble gun, while Charlotte preferred the company of a giant white poodle.

Apart from their appearance at the tea party, the children remained at Government House under the care of their nanny, Maria Turrion.

While their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge explored the country, meeting indigenous people on the island of Haida Gwaii and sailing a tall ship in Victoria, George and Charlotte enjoyed low-key outings such as a trip to a petting zoo, the Daily Telegraph reports.

As the family mounted the stairs of the seaplane, which would provide the first leg of their journey home on Saturday, both children demonstrated they have already mastered the art of waving to their subjects.

Before take-off, the toddler Prince, who is reportedly fascinated by his father Prince William's work as a helicopter pilot, was allowed into the cockpit.

Pilot Shawn Stewart told the Daily Mirror George threw himself into playing with the controls, telling his mother Kate: "I'm going to fly us to England."

Addressing the crowd of well-wishers who had gathered at Victoria Harbour to see them off, William said: "We feel very lucky to have been able to introduce George and Charlotte to Canada.

"This country will play a big part in the lives of our children and we have created such happy memories for our family during this visit."

Princess Charlotte in pictures: Bubbles, balloons and a dog called Moose

30 September

They might be in line to the throne, but Prince George and Princess Charlotte have been enjoying the everyday delights of small children - bubbles, balloons and cuddly animals - during their family trip to Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the two young royals attended a children's party for military families in Victoria yesterday and were "the life of the tea party", says Canada's the Globe and Mail.

George was photographed happily blowing bubbles from a squirt gun, while Charlotte made a beeline for a collection of colourful balloons. "As she hugged the balloons she could be heard to utter her first words in public: 'Pop'," reports the Daily Mail.

The toddler princess was particularly enamoured with a large white poodle called Moose, even sitting on the dog's back and bouncing on him a few times.

Children's entertainer Paul Kilshaw, on hand to make balloon animals, told the Globe and Mail George had asked for a spider and a volcano, while Charlotte wanted a teddy bear.

The royal play date was held in the grounds of Victoria's Government House, where the family have been staying.

Princess Charlotte charms Canada on her first foreign tour

26 September

Princess Charlotte and her brother Prince George are stealing the headlines from their parents during their official visit to Canada this week.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have taken both their children on their eight-day visit of the country, the first time the one-year-old Princess has been on a foreign tour.

"The siblings looked adorable as they touched down at Victoria Airport on Saturday," says Canada's Hello! magazine. "Royal fans were amazed by how much Princess Charlotte had grown up since she was last seen at Trooping the Colour in June."

It adds: "The one-year-old wore a pretty blue floral dress with navy shoes and a matching hair bow for her first ever royal tour, and waved as she exited the plane in her mother's arms."

Older brother George, however, was not quite as welcoming after the long flight. The three-year-old Prince refused to high five or shake hands with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau upon landing in the country, much to the amusement of social media, where one Twitter user called it a perfect metaphor for global politics.

Kate and Prince William will be carrying out more than 30 public engagements during their visit, while the children are looked after by their nanny at Government House, the residence of British Columbia's Lieutenant Governor Judith Gichon.

"They can explore outside with a waterfall, totem pole, a fountain with rubber ducks and a vegetable garden," the Daily Mirror reports. "The resident chef is also expected to be cooking their favourite dinners, including spaghetti bolognese for Prince George."

The Duchess was asked about her children in Vancouver, during a visit to a charity that helps mothers struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

She said they were well, the Daily Telegraph reports. "I just can't believe how quickly they're growing, it's amazing how the time goes," she added.

Kate and William have also been showered with gifts for the children, including two teddy bears from a five-year-old Hailey Cain. "Thank you so much, Charlotte will love this. She loves her teddies," said the Duchess.

Princess Charlotte's first tour: What are royals doing in Canada?

14 September

Princess Charlotte is preparing for her first official tour abroad later this month when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will take their two children to Canada for a week.

The family will fly into Victoria on Saturday 24 September on a private jet, funded by Canadian taxpayers, and will stay at Government House, the official residence of the Queen's representative in British Columbia.

Maria Borrallo, the children's nanny, will be on hand to care for one-year-old Princess Charlotte and three-year-old Prince George while their parents travel the region on dozens of official engagements.

The siblings are, however, expected to attend a children's party for military families at Government House on Thursday 29 September.

"It will be Charlotte's first official engagement as a member of the royal family, outside of balcony appearances," says the Daily Mail. "But it is hoped that if they are not feeling too jet-lagged the children may undertake another public engagement together in Victoria."

The children are also likely to be seen boarding the plane when the family leaves Canada on Saturday 1 October.

"William and Kate last visited Canada in 2011 as newlyweds, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators throughout a nine-day tour," notes CBC News, "but this will be the first visit with their two young children."

The Duke and Duchess have a very busy itinerary planned from the moment they arrive. After visiting the Cenotaph in Victoria, they will be welcomed at the Legislature and later meet senior Canadian leaders.

On their second day they will fly to Vancouver to visit a charity for addicted mothers and to meet emergency response workers and young leaders in arts, sports and film before returning to Victoria by hovercraft.

Other trips include an aerial tour of the Great Bear Rain Forest, a volleyball match, a wine tasting at Mission Hill Winery and a street party in Whitehorse.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, are expected to join them on 28 September.

The Duke and Duchess are also due to take part in a traditional canoe trip, a fishing trip and to open a hospital.

Even on the day they fly home, the couple plan to visit charities, including a mental health centre, and sail on a Sail and Life Training Society tall ship.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace said the couple have "received so many wonderful messages from Canadians since the birth of their children and look forward to having the chance to introduce their young family to the country".

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