What Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are known as at school

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis made a return to Lambrook School in Berkshire this week, joining millions of students back in the classroom after the summer break.

The royal siblings—George, Charlotte, and Louis—enrolled at the prep school in September 2022.

Following a family getaway with their grandfather, King Charles, at Balmoral in Scotland, the children are now embarking on new academic years: George in Year 7, Charlotte in Year 5, and Louis in Year 2. 

Despite their global fame, the young royals are known simply by their first names and "Wales" at school, reflecting their parents’ titles. 

Thus, they are addressed as George Wales, Charlotte Wales, and Louis Wales by their classmates—a charming nod to their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, who assumed their titles after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022.

At school, the children follow a tradition set by their royal predecessors, Prince William and Prince Harry, by using their parents' former title, Wales, as their surname. 

While members of the royal family are typically known by their first names and titles like His or Her Royal Highness in public, they often use surnames for official and everyday matters.

Historically, the royal family has opted for names tied to their lineage rather than conventional surnames. 

For instance, the name Windsor is associated with the royal house, while the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, established by Queen Elizabeth II in 1960, applies to male-line descendants of the monarch without royal titles.