Prince George's first day at nursery: Proud Kate and Wills release adorable pictures

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watched proudly today as their son Prince George started nursery school and posed for pictures taken by his mother.

The Palace released two photos of the Prince at nursery today

In a landmark day for the future King, George, who is almost two and a half, began his education at the £33 per day Westacre Montessori School Nursery in the village of East Walton, Norfolk.

Kensington Palace put out two pictures of the third in line to the throne, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge outside the nursery, which is housed in an old chapel.

Onlookers said tight security surrounded the royal party when they arrive at the nursery, which is a 10-mile, 20-minute drive from the Cambridges' 10-bedroom Georgian mansion, Anmer Hall, on the Queen's Sandringham estate.

The landmark day was captured by the prince's proud parents

George is expected to attend two or three times per week initially at a cost of £5.50 per hour, cheaper than many London nurseries.

He will be following in the family tradition. His father Prince William and uncle Prince Harry both went to Mrs Mynors' School in Notting Hill, London, which used the Montessori teaching method. His grandmother Princess Diana worked as a teaching assistant at The Young England Kindergarten in Pimlico, London, which also followed the same philosophy.

Developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, who opened her first school in 1907, Montessori schools encourage independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child's natural psychological, physical and social development. Children are encouraged to explore their passions rather than being instructed by a teacher.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hope both George and his sister Princess Charlotte will spend their early years of school in Norfolk, where they have based themselves despite spending £4.5 million of taxpayers money upgrading their 21-room apartment at Kensington Palace, which they initially said would be where they spent most of their time.

Prince George at nursery

William's role as a helicopter pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance was designed to fit in with their chosen lifestyle. Asked about their choice of nursery, a royal source said: "They felt this was ideal as a first step for Prince George's early education. And the location makes sense given the Duke's role while he's flying."

Westacre, based in a redbrick former Methodist chapel dating back to 1889, is in a secluded position around 200 yards down a track marked as a public road in East Walton, near King's Lynn. A fenced off area of common land, featuring several ponds and a small dyke, lies opposite the school and villagers said pupils are often taken for walks on nearby tracks.

The school was set up in 1993 in the nearby village of Westacre and moved to the former chapel around 15 years ago. The nursery, which caters for around 20 children at any one time, is currently run by Rosie Reynolds, 53, who lives in East Walton.

Children play and learn in a large room with brightly coloured walls decorated with pupils’ artwork.

There is also an outside play area with artificial grass, a picnic table, a slide and climbing frame with plastic seats and a bench and a covered area for plastic cars and trikes.

Prince George waving to the cameras after the birth of his baby sister Charlotte