Prince George photographed on first day at Montessori nursery in Norfolk

The two-year-old is attending the Westacre Montessori School

Ms Gibbins describe Prince George as "white privilege" (AFP/Getty Images)

The third in line to the British throne has taken a big step up the educational ladder.

Kensington Palace said that Prince George started nursery school Wednesday, a milestone for the young future king.

Prince William and his wife Kate marked the occasion by releasing two photographs of two-and-a-half-year-old George outside the school building. Kate took the photos showing George in a blue jacket with a backpack.

The royal couple had earlier announced he would be attending Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, 110 miles (180 kilometers) north of London.

The school has said he will receive the same treatment as other pupils.

The future king is following in the footsteps of his father William and uncle Prince Harry who were also taught at a Montessori nursery at Mrs Mynors School in west London.

Diana, Princess of Wales had first-hand experience of the Montessori teaching method as she worked for a period at the Young England Kindergarten in Pimlico, central London, which used the system.

George's first day at nursery was a far cry from his father's experience of starting his schooling.

William was also joined by his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales as he walked into the nursery, but there were reportedly more than 100 reporters and photographers witnessing the moment.

George's nursery is in a converted chapel on a private road in East Walton, near King's Lynn, and there was likely to have been only other parents and their children nearby.

By contrast Kate went to a nursery in the Jordanian capital Amman where her family were living at the time.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, in a photograph taken late October at Kensington Palace

The nursery in Norfolk reportedly charges £5.50 an hour and has been rated as good after an Ofsted inspection in June, the same grade it received following the last inspection in 2008.

The report said: "Children are interested and motivated to participate in activities. Staff have a secure knowledge of how children learn and develop. Children make good progress given their starting points and capabilities."

But it said the nursery was not yet rated as outstanding because: "Staff do not always seize opportunities to promote children's learning and deeper thinking skills to the highest level.

"Strategies to build on and develop the good teaching practice further are not yet fully established."

PA