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Princess Charlotte may stay home with brother Prince George when schools reopen

Prince William and Kate Middleton are understood to be keen to keep the siblings together (Getty Images)
Prince William and Kate Middleton are understood to be keen to keep the siblings together (Getty Images)

During lockdown, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been home schooling their children at their Norfolk country home Anmer Hall.

Like many parents, their children’s school - Thomas’s Battersea in south west London - is expected to reopen next month, after closing its doors in March at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.

It is likely to follow official guidance in welcoming back reception, year 1 and years 6 pupils.

Despite this, The Sunday Times have reported that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are considering keeping Princess Charlotte - who is in reception - at home with her brother Prince George, who is in year 2.

Read more: Duchess of Cambridge discusses homeschooling three young royals

With their eldest child not among those intended to return to the classroom, the royal parents are keen to maintain the routine they have established during the pandemic.

The private school is also understood they have the capacity to have an extra year group back before the end of the summer term.

If this is year 2, William, 37, and Kate, 38, are likely to send their son, six, and daughter, five, back at the same time.

Earlier this month, the duchess discussed the realities of homeschooling in lockdown during an interview on TV show This Morning.

Read more: Prince William admits 'hardest time is dinner time' with three children at home

Kate and host Holly Willoughby bonded over the difficulties of each keeping three children occupied with school work as they turned teacher.

The duchess said: “George gets very upset because he wants to do Charlotte’s projects!

“Like making spider sandwiches - it’s far cooler than doing literacy work.”

Of the difficulties of explaining the measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic to kids, she added: “It’s really hard and we hadn’t done a huge amount of face time or calls before but we are doing that a lot more now.

Read more: Prince William reveals becoming a parent brought back painful memories of Princess Diana's death

“We try to check in daily with family members, and speak to them about news, and things like that so in some ways we have more face time and contact with them than we would before.

“But it’s hard to explain to a five, and a six, nearly seven-year-old, what’s going on. But, the schools have been great in supporting them so we have the support.”

It comes as the duke revealed the “hardest time is dinner time” with their young kids, who also include one-year-old son Prince Louis.

Speaking via video call to a charity in Glasgow this week, he admitted: “It depends what’s on the table.

“If parents put something on that children love, dinner time goes very well.

“But if you put something on the table they don’t want to do, that’s another ball game.”