Prince George is settling into school life, but it's unlikely he'll be called by his royal title by his teachers and reception classmates.
Following recent speculation over the young prince's surname as he starts his education at Thomas's Battersea, Kensington Palace has confirmed the four-year-old will be known as George Cambridge.
This makes a lot of sense, given that his official title is Prince George of Cambridge and his parents are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It also suggests William and Kate are keen for their son to be treated in the most normal way possible as he grows up.
However, George doesn't have to use his family name. In fact, any royal with the title 'His Royal Highness Prince' or 'Her Royal Highness Princess' doesn't need to use a surname at all.
According to the the Royal Family's website: 'A proclamation on the Royal Family name by the reigning monarch is not statutory; unlike an Act of Parliament, it does not pass into the law of the land. Such a proclamation is not binding on succeeding reigning sovereigns, nor does it set a precedent which must be followed by reigning sovereigns who come after.
'Unless The Prince of Wales chooses to alter the present decisions when he becomes king, he will continue to be of the House of Windsor and his grandchildren will use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.'
For a more detailed explanation of why George and Charlotte won't need to use their surnames at school anyway, read ELLE's previous post here.
Although a surname isn't necessary, both Prince Harry and Prince William have chosen to do so in the past. When they joined the army, they went by the names of Harry Wales and William Wales respectively, because their father is the Prince of Wales.
But this is where it gets complicated. This means that when Prince Charles becomes king, it is likely Prince William will follow most heirs apparent in history and inherit the title Prince of Wales. So eventually, George might be a Wales one day, too.
