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Princess Charlotte held onto her mother's hand today as she arrived for her first day of school with her big brother Prince George, who is set to show her around the £18,915-a-year private institution.

Charlotte smiled, waved and shyly hid behind the Duchess of Cambridge who was holding her bag as she started at Thomas's Battersea in South London, where it is taught that kindness is as important as academic success.

Proudly wearing her uniform, the confident young princess was joined this morning by her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as George - third in line to the throne - as she begins her school career. 

Head of the lower school Helen Haslem was waiting to greet her new pupil and shook hands with the princess, who celebrated her fourth birthday on May 2 and will be known as Charlotte Cambridge to staff and schoolmates.