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Our new monarch, His Majesty King Charles III, spent part of his childhood at a nearby North Hampshire school where he studied for five years.
While he was still the Duke of Cornwall, King Charles studied at Cheam School, Headley, just like his father Prince Philip did before him in the 1930s.
Both the Newbury Weekly News and The Daily Telegraph reported on Charles’ arrival when he first came to Cheam on Monday, September 23, 1957.
The Duke of Cornwall joined his new school at the start of the Christmas term.
He arrived just after 6pm with the Queen and Prince Philip, after they all travelled down from Balmoral.
There were 150 people waiting for the royal party outside the school and the young prince and his parents were greeted by Mr Beck, one of the joint headmasters, and his wife.
The King was wearing a Royal blue school cap with the monogram ‘C’, which he raised to Mr Beck as they shook hands.
“Mrs Beck led the Duke into the hall after the Queen and Prince Philip,” the report said. “Many of the boys had already arrived and watched through the windows.”
It was while he was a pupil at Cheam that the Queen proclaimed Charles, The Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on July 26, 1958, when the young heir was nine years old.
A Newbury Weekly News article titled ‘Palace To Prep School’ in September 26, 1957’s edition of the Local Chit-Chat column told of Charles’ experiences settling into life at the school.
“Yesterday, Prince Charles was reported to be settling down well at Cheam School and taking a lively interest in his food,” it reported
“Few eight-year-olds can ever experience such a sudden change. Palace to prep school is a big step; the well-sprung mattress is exchanged for a more utilitarian model; the footmen fade away; the luxury of his own coach on the Royal train is supplanted by a dormitory shared with other boys.
“The decision to send the young Prince away to school could not have been taken lightly. Few doubt that it was the right one.
“And remembering those TV shots of happy, highly excited boys dashing about the school grounds it seems certain that Prince Charles will take his departure, when the time comes, like so many other boys have done, better-equipped for the serious affair of facing the succeeding years.”
In tribute to the Queen, Cheam School has opened a book of condolence so that children, staff and families can pay their respects to her.
A Cheam spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Her contribution to our nation has been immeasurable and she enriched all our lives through her selfless service, her kindness and her strength.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all members of the Royal Family.”