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Four-year-old Charlotte, dressed in the
school's uniform of navy blue with red trim cardigan and blue
skirt, held her mother's hand as she arrived at the school,
accompanied also by her father and her brother.
Strict about children's appearance, the London school emphasizes
that hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back.
Charlotte had done so neatly, with a whispy ponytail. She also
bore a backpack with a sequin-studded unicorn keychain.
Headteacher Helen Haslem greeted Charlotte with a handshake as
the princess balanced on tip-toe to introduce herself, watched
by a beaming Kate, who wore a modest floral dress.
The great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, Charlotte is
fourth-in-line to the British throne, after - in ascending order
- six-year-old George, her father William and her grandfather
Prince Charles.
Charlotte's younger brother, Louis, who is fifth-in-line to the
throne, celebrated his first birthday in April.
George has been a pupil at Thomas's Battersea since 2017. He
became the focus of attention last month when U.S. television
host Lara Spencer commented on reports he was taking ballet
lessons by saying "We'll see how long that lasts." She issued a
hasty apology after being criticized for insensitivity.
The school teaches 560 boys and girls between the ages of 4 and
13, with yearly fees for four year-olds of around 19,000 pounds
($24,000).
The charge for Charlotte, however, will be discounted because
her brother is already a pupil. The termly fee for a second
child is 6,305 pounds against 6,429 pounds for the first,
according to the school's website.
Two years ago police reviewed security arrangements at the
school after a 40-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of
attempted burglary there shortly after George started.
The woman accepted a caution for causing a nuisance on school
property.
(Editing by Stephen Addison)
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