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The Prince and Princess of Wales have reportedly left Balmoral with their three children as the family prepares for a particularly busy start to September.
Prince William and Princess Catherine travelled from Scotland with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis earlier this week, reportedly choosing a commercial flight in keeping with their usual arrangements for family holidays.
Their time at Balmoral happened to overlap with major developments involving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. While the Waleses were staying at the royal estate, news emerged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were preparing to return to Britain with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The announcement came at almost the same time William and Catherine arrived in Scotland last week, placing additional attention on the Royal Family’s traditional summer gathering at Balmoral.
During their stay at Balmoral, William and Catherine were seen attending a service at Crathie Kirk with their children, joining several other senior members of the Royal Family at the church close to the Scottish estate.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were also present, alongside Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence. Prince Edward attended as well, accompanied by his daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
The end of the family’s summer holiday comes just before an important milestone for Prince George. Kensington Palace confirmed in June that the young royal will begin studying at Eton College in September, opening a new chapter in his education.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will remain at Lambrook School, where they are due to return for the start of the new academic term.
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Eton College’s location close to Windsor Castle makes it a particularly practical option for Prince George and his family. Being within easy reach of home should allow the young prince to spend time with his parents and siblings during the school term without lengthy journeys.
Preparations are already being made ahead of George’s arrival, with additional steps reportedly introduced to protect his privacy as he begins this important new stage.
New signs prohibiting photography have been placed on fencing around the college grounds, serving as a clear warning to photographers and members of the public not to take pictures of pupils.
The approach has similarities to the privacy measures introduced during Prince William’s own years at Eton, when efforts were made to allow him to experience school life with as little media intrusion as possible.
When Prince William attended Eton, special arrangements were put in place to give him as normal a school experience as possible despite intense public interest. The media were offered occasional, pre-arranged opportunities to photograph the young prince in exchange for respecting his privacy throughout the rest of his time at the college.
A similar understanding could now be introduced for Prince George as he follows in his father’s footsteps and begins his education at Eton.
Such an agreement would provide a compromise between the inevitable public fascination surrounding the future King and the need for George to enjoy the same level of privacy and protection afforded to other pupils at the school.
