As national figureheads, Kate Middleton and Prince William have had slightly different concerns that the world at large when it comes to responding to the coronavirus crisis. As Queen Elizabeth retires to the more secluded Windsor Castle this week, the couple is planning to refocus their attention on responding to the disruptions the virus has caused in the U.K.. But at the end of the week, they’ll also be dealing with a situation that has become increasingly common in the age of COVID-19. Thomas’s Battersea, the school where Princess Charlotte and Prince George attend kindergarten and second grade respectively, will be closing, and the pair will need to be homeschooled at least until Easter break, according to *Hello! magazine.
Though the term ends on March 26, the school will switch to remote learning on Friday, March 20. “From this date the curriculum will be taught through online learning platforms and we have asked parents to keep their children at home and to access their lessons through this system,” a spokesperson for the school said in a statement. “This will ensure that children have continuity of learning when they are unable to attend school.”
The school will remain open for children whose parents are front-line medical staff or otherwise unable to educate them at home. Though the school is scheduled to return from their Easter vacation on April 21, it’s unclear how long the social distancing measures will remain in place.
There is plenty of precedent for royal homeschooling, and the queen herself was homeschooled with her sister Princess Margaret. But beginning with Prince Charles, royal parents have opted to send their kids to private schools. Thomas’s Battersea was selected by Kate and William for their children because of its progressive educational philosophy.
The school, which costs £19,000 a year—or about $22,000—is also attended by Mia Tindall, the daughter of William’s cousin Zara. Kate and William drop their kids off at school most days, and have become acquainted with the parents of the fellow pupils, some of whom have come over for playdates at the couple’s Kensington Palace’s apartment. The Cambridges also keep a country home in Norfolk, where they were spotted shopping on Saturday.
So while the kids will be staying at home, we’re still likely to see more Kate and William, even if they are taking precautions. “At a time like this, the royal family is very important in providing stability and support to a worried nation,” a palace insider said to Vanity Fair this week. “Their aides are going through the latest government advice but it’s fair to say the focus of their work will shift. Supporting the community and vulnerable people in society is more important right now.”
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