She still hopes to take George for his first day at school
The Duchess of Cambridge is still ‘hopeful’ she will be able to take Prince George to his first day of school, sources have said.
But a decision will not be made until the time comes on Thursday morning as Kate battles her debilitating morning sickness.
Last week Kensington Palace announced that George, four, would arrive for his first day at Thomas’s Battersea primary school, in south-west London, with his parents for a brief photocall.
Both have made clear that they want to do the school run as much possible – even though it will take them up to 40 minutes each way from the palace.
Kate’s condition, which forced her to cancel a public engagement yesterday, has called Thursday’s visit into question.
But an aide told the Mail yesterday: ‘It’s an important day in a child’s life and like any mother she will do her utmost to be there. Unfortunately the duchess won’t be able to make a decision until nearer the time, when she sees how she is feeling. If she can be there, she will.’
Yesterday at Thomas’s, situated in an exclusive area of London dubbed ‘Nappy Valley’ for the sheer volume of well-to- do families that live there, extensive building work was still under way in the run-up to the first day of school. An alleged security breach has raised questions of how safe the old grammar school site is.
One local resident, Sarah Burnett-Moore, 54, said she ‘strolled’ into the school in recent days after workmen left the main gate and entrance door open.
Describing the lack of security as ‘astonishing’, she said it would have been easy to plant a timed explosive device. She argued the prince’s presence at the school posed a risk to locals. ‘I live just 200 metres from the school and myself and lot of neighbours are worried about the security implications, as the prince’s presence will make the area a target for attacks,’ she said.
One pensioner, who has lived on Battersea High Street for 70 years, said she welcomed an increased police presence because it would make the street safer. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she had recently been robbed just a few yards from her doorstep. ‘I was walking my dog, and a man mounted the pavement on a bicycle and ripped the gold chain from around my neck,’ she said. ‘I’ll be glad if they ramp up security and police here because it will be a lot more safe’.
Sources have indicated that there will be a permanent police presence while George is at school.