The photographs of Prince George's first day of school at Thomas's Battersea in London in September 2017 travelled around the world within hours. The future king, in a school uniform and hand-in-hand with his father, looked much like any four-year-old being taken for their first day. Prince William was performing a universal parental duty: walking a child through a major life milestone.
But these were not images that captured the magic and sparkle of the royal family. The public interest was immense, and many commentators noted that the images captured something remarkably ordinary.
A royal milestone looked surprisingly normal
According to The Guardian, Prince George attended his first day of school at Thomas's Battersea with Prince William on September 7, 2017, while Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge, was unable to attend because she was experiencing severe morning sickness during her pregnancy with Prince Louis. Photos showed George walking hand-in-hand with his father before being greeted by Helen Haslem, then Head of Lower School. The scene was mundane; no state ceremony or formal royal duty was on display. A little boy, possibly a little nervous, stood beside his parent.
That ordinariness may help explain why the images continue to be circulated years later.
The importance of starting school
School entry has long been identified by developmental researchers as a critical early childhood transition. Research suggests that starting school influences a child's emotional adjustment, social relationships, and academic development, and is a major life transition impacting not only the child but also the entire family unit. It is this context that may have prompted so many people to identify with Prince George and Prince William, a father accompanying his child on a rite of passage millions of families undertake every September.
The work begins long before the school gate
The emotions surrounding a child's first day do not start on the morning itself. A longitudinal study available through PubMed found that starting school is a major family transition; planning and preparation before the start of school was associated with more positive adjustment after children began first grade. In practical terms, the study determined that having discussions, preparing, and parent involvement before school is vital for successful school adjustment. This is perhaps why Prince George's photos appeared to strike a chord with so many; it may have reminded many parents of the preparation that often takes place before a child's first day of school.
The significance of a parent at the gates
Research shows that school transitions may intensify a child's need for closeness and reassurance. A population-based study found that the school entry period may negatively affect a child's perception of their family relationships, resulting in an increased need for emotional support during this time. For many children, a parent's presence at the gates can be a very important sign that the school environment is a safe place. The image can be viewed through this lens: a child approaching something new, accompanied by a parent.
Despite numerous studies focusing on the child's experiences, parents' school transition experiences have also received increased research attention. A study on mothers' concerns for their child starting school found that mothers' concerns, expectations and parent-child interaction style can influence how the family experiences starting school. The results of this study and many others boil down to one simple thing: a child's first day at school is not merely a child's transition; it is also a family's transition.
Through this lens, the images of Prince William and Prince George appear to shift from a focus on royalty to a much more accessible concept—that of parenthood.
A moment that crossed social boundaries
One reason the photos may have resonated is that the experience they depicted was familiar across social backgrounds. Most parents would never find their child attending the same school as a future king. Nonetheless, most viewers would recognise the child's expression, the parental instinct to protectively embrace a child, and the natural mix of anxiety and pride associated with such a moment. Studies on parent-child interactional and communicative support have provided consistent evidence for the relation between sensitive parenting and better child emotional regulation. The findings of this review confirmed that sensitive parenting is associated with enhanced developmental outcomes and adaptation.
While the study itself did not analyse these particular photographs, the findings may help explain why many viewers found the images relatable.
Why the image still resonates
Prince George's first-day school photos remain popular today for a simple reason: they capture a common experience transcending social class and family roles. Warm and sensitive parenting has long been among the most protective factors for successful transitions during children's developmental periods. Many viewers likely saw not only a future king and heir to the throne, but also a father walking his son to school.
Even years later, it's the exact same reason why this photo endures; it shows something many families recognise: the support of a parent at the threshold of a new chapter.
