IN PICTURES | How cute! Princess Charlotte's first day at big school

Princess Charlotte, daughter of Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, started school on Thursday, joining her elder brother Prince George at Thomas's Battersea in southwest London.

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 emphasises 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 her beaming mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, 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 criticised 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 £19k (about R347k).

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 (R115,297) against £6,429 (R117,565) 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. - Reuters