Lambrook: the private prep school fit for a king

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced they are sending all three of their children to Lambrook school near Windsor.

Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, are to be enrolled at what Lambrook itself describes as “a leading co-educational Prep School for 615 boys and girls aged 3-13”. It is just a short distance from Adelaide Cottage, the family’s new residence near Windsor Castle.

In a statement, a royal source said the move by William and Kate was “made to give their children the ‘most normal’ start possible”. Their previous home at Kensington Palace “can be a little bit of a fishbowl”, the source said, so “they wanted to be able to give George, Charlotte and Louis a bit more freedom than they have living in central London”, Sky News reported.

History of Lambrook

Founded in 1860 as a school for tutoring courtiers at Windsor Castle, Lambrook was initially a boarding school for boys but began admitting day pupils in 1992, with girls following shortly after.

Pupils are divided into four houses, named Alexander, Athlone, Dewar and Goodhart after four donors who funded Haileybury, a sister school to Lambrook, said The Times.

“While it is not as well-known to the public for its royal links as the likes of Eton, Gordonstoun, Wetherby or Ludgrove, where Prince William and Prince Harry were taught, it has some historic ties through Queen Victoria,” said The Telegraph.

It boasts two of her grandsons, Prince Christian Victor and Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein, as early alumni and it is believed Queen Victoria used to travel to the school to watch them perform in plays and take part in cricket matches.

Other famous alumni

As well as its royal connections, former students also include Alfred “Bosie” Douglas, the poet best known as Oscar Wilde’s lover, and two sons of the former prime minister Herbert Asquith.

The facilities

Set in a white stucco country house in 52 acres of grounds, the school has a 25-metre swimming pool, astroturf pitches, tennis courts and a performing arts studio, as well as an orchard, woodland and even a nine-hole golf course.

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/education/957722/lambrook-school-prince-george-princess-charlotte-prince-louis