Prince George invites his school friends for play dates at Kensington Palace
PRINCE George has invited his young school friends on play dates to Kensington Palace, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Parents Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have made the 17th century royal residence their family home.
Prince George, six, who is third in line to the throne, is a popular pupil at £19,000-per-year private school Thomas’s Battersea in South West London.
A royal insider said: “Kate and William are delighted that George is getting on so well at school and that he’s made friends.
“And just like any normal child, he has invited a few of his mates on play dates.
“It’s just that most schoolkids don’t go somewhere like Kensington Palace to see their friends out of lessons.
“It is wonderful for them – and their parents – to go to such a beautiful and historic palace and have the run of the place.
“But it does involve a bit more planning than a normal play date, as everyone visiting the palace has to be security vetted.”
Prince George, the Queen’s great-grandchild, has just started Year 2 at Thomas’s Junior School.
He was pictured there last week alongside his parents and sister Princess Charlotte, four, as she arrived for her first day in Reception.
The school, set in a Grade II-listed building dating from 1700, lists its main rule as “Be kind”.
It teaches youngsters that kindness is as important as academic success and places an emphasis on the arts and sport.
One of George’s friends at the school is his cousin Maud – daughter of Prince Michael of Kent’s son Freddie Windsor – who is in the same year as him.
Prince George has reportedly shown an interest in football and tennis, as well as taking ballet lessons.
Kensington Palace released a picture of the young royal, taken by his mother, on his sixth birthday in July in an England football shirt.
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