The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced yesterday that their two-year-old daughter will start her education next month at Willcocks nursery, close to their Kensington Palace home.

The princess will be a full-time pupil at the nursery, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted and charges fees of just over £3,000 a term for pupils attending its Monday to Friday morning school.

Charlotte should feel at home on her first day – some of her favourite toys will arrive ahead of her. The nursery said she was not getting special treatment as it offered the gesture for all new arrivals.

The picture used on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's 2017 Christmas card which was taken by Getty Images royal photographer Chris Jackson at Kensington Palace showing the royal couple with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said William and Kate, who is pregnant with their third child, felt the nursery was “ideal as a first step for Princess Charlotte’s early education and they were impressed by the team that work there”.

The family issued a new photograph yesterday, in which Charlotte is seen with her parents and her four-year-old brother, Prince George.

The picture, taken earlier this year, will feature on the Cambridges’ Christmas card.

Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla chose a shot of themselves at her 70th birthday party for their card.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall's 2017 Christmas card on a Christmas tree in Clarence House, London.

The pair are dressed for a private summer party at their Highgrove home last July – Camilla in a flower design necklace which complements her embroidered ivory dress, and Charles in a bespoke Savile Row dinner jacket.

Printed on the outside of the card are the Prince of Wales’ feathers and the Duchess’ cipher, while inside are the words, “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year”.

Charlotte prepares for school after Christmas