Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William’s two eldest children will no longer attend Thomas’s School in Battersea as the school introduces “remote learning” in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, four, will instead be home-schooled. The school has implemented the measure as a precaution, and said no staff members or pupils had tested positive for the killer virus, formally named COVID-19.

Several children at Thomas’s four schools, in Battersea, Clapham, Kensington and Fulham, are believed to have been tested for the virus – but no one has received a positive result.

In response to the pandemic, school officials have decided the schools will close and shift to online learning.

A spokesperson for Thomas’s four schools said: “Due to the increasing numbers of children and staff being absent from school due to the Coronavirus situation, Thomas’s London Day Schools have decided to move to remote learning from Friday 20 March.

“From this date the curriculum will be taught through online learning platforms and we have asked parents to keep their children at home and to access their lessons through this system.

“This will ensure that children have continuity of learning when they are unable to attend school.

“In cases where families are not in a position to keep their children at home (such as those who are ‘front line staff’ in the medical profession, for example), the school will remain physically open until the last day of term, Thursday, 26th March.

“We appreciate the support of our school community as we continue to provide the best possible solution for our pupils during these challenging times.”

The school charges £19,000 a year in fees, and has 560 pupils aged between four and 13.

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The Battersea campus is just a short drive from the Cambridge’s home in Kensington Palace, with both William and Kate known to do the school run.

It comes as the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced the closure of all UK schools from Friday, except for children of key workers and vulnerable pupils – such as those with learning needs.

Boris Johnson confirmed the measure in his daily press conference on Wednesday.

The royals are having to implement a number of measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Princess Beatrice, who was due to wed fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in May, has had to cancel her wedding reception.

They are understood to be considering a private marriage.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the couple made the decision after following Government advice in regards to “older family members and large gatherings of people”.

Beatrice and Edo were due to get married at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace on Friday May 29.

The Queen has cancelled all future royal engagements and will move from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle on Thursday, one week ahead of schedule.

She is then likely to remain in Windsor for an extended period.

The Queen, who will be 94 next month, has already cancelled planned engagements in Cheshire and Camden as well as several garden parties due to be hosted at Buckingham Palace.

It is not yet known whether Trooping the Colour, a highlight in the Queen’s calendar, or the 75th anniversary of VE Day, will go ahead.

The Palace said further announcements on these events “will be made in due course in consultation with the Government”.

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