Kate Middleton's School Gate Struggles: Fitting in With Other Parents Isn't as Easy as It Seems for the Princess of Wales

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has had "a trying year," but Her Royal Highness reportedly remains dedicated to staying involved in her children's schooling.

However, the future queen apparently finds it hard to fit in with other moms and dads during chatter at the school gates.

The education of royal children has seen significant changes over the generations, with Prince William and Princess Kate opting for a more modern approach.

While past royals, like King Charles III, attended boarding schools from a young age — His Majesty being the first heir to study at a civilian school, Cheam, at age eight — William and Kate’s children follow a different path. Their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, initially attended Thomas’s Battersea in London but later transferred to Lambrook School in Berkshire in 2022, following the family’s move to Adelaide Cottage near Windsor.

The couple "actively participates in school activities, from doing the school run to cheering at sports events, creating a sense of normalcy for their children," a royal insider revealed.

Royal commentator Katie Nicholl noted that, despite their royal status, William and Kate aim to remain part of the school community without being aloof.

The school environment has provided the family with stability during turbulent times. Nicholl also reflected on the importance of this routine, especially when Kate was undergoing cancer treatment, noting that maintaining normalcy, like George playing football with friends during that period, helped sustain the family through difficult moments.

"They keep themselves to themselves, but they’re certainly not aloof in any way," the author shared. "They are part of the school community and very happy to be so. At Saturday soccer, they’re there to support their children."

The school’s atmosphere reportedly encourages friendly interaction among families, though royal commentator Duncan Larcombe suggests that William and Kate maintain a "selective social circle," preferring meaningful connections over celebrity friendships.

While the family’s time at Lambrook appears smooth, debates about George’s future schooling have emerged. William favors Eton College, his alma mater, which is close to their home, while Kate reportedly leans towards a co-educational school like Marlborough College, where she studied with her siblings.

However, the king and queen-in-waiting have reportedly reached a possible compromise and are also considering another option.

Their Royal Highnesses are also looking at St. Edward's School in Oxford, which comes with a 47,000 pound per year price tag. It is believed the pair think the school is a good fit for George, who is second in line to the throne, and reportedly visited the location shortly before the princess had abdominal surgery. Kate long disagreed with her husband about sending him away, even though it's tradition.

"Kate thinks sending him to such a stuffy, upper-class institution goes against all of their efforts to modernize the monarchy," a royal source told an outlet when discussing the future monarch and queen consort's plans.

OK! U.K. reported on Kate's school issues.