AFTER HER SURPRISE VISIT TO HER OLD SCHOOL THE PRINCESS OF WALES HOW MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE HELPED THE YOUNG KATE BLOSSOM IN BEAUTY AND CONFIDENCE

Her school days at Marlborough College, where she blossomed in confidence, excelled at sport and made lifelong friends, rank among the happiest times of her life and last week, the Princess of Wales took a trip down memory lane to her treasured alma mater.

- SALLY MORGAN

Although the reason for the royal mum of three’s private visit has not been disclosed, it was said to be “the talk of the school”.

It comes at a time when Kate and her husband the Prince will have been considering options for the next stage of their elder son Prince George’s education.

Alongside his siblings Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, ten-year-old George is a pupil at Lambrook School, near the family home Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate in Berkshire.

He is also, his mum told students during a trip to Cardiff at the beginning of October, due to sit exams shortly.

“I’ve been helping George prepare for his exams coming up, so I know how hard maths can be,” she said.

With Prince William’s Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore next week co inc id ing wi th th i s challenging time, Kate is staying at home to support George in what are thought to be pre-tests for the Independent Schools Examination Board, which test children on what they know, understand and can achieve at senior school.

TREASURED MEMORIES

There is speculation that George will follow in his father’s footsteps and attend Eton College, where William, like Kate, thrived.