The Prince of Wales has praised teachers and schools for ‘going above and beyond for their pupils'.

Prince Charles, 71, also spoke of his admiration for parents who have been coping with lockdown and having to home school their children, often without laptops or access to the internet.

The heir to the throne made his remarks in a video message, recorded from his Birkhall residence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, for the charity Teach First, of which he is patron.

Charles said: ‘While recent times have been incredibly difficult for us all, I can only begin to imagine how challenging it has been for young people and families to adapt. 


















Prince Charles, 71, praised teachers and schools for 'going above and beyond for their pupils' during the coronavirus lockdown in a video message recorded from his Birkhall estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland


'In particular, I am thinking of those families who simply do not have the resources, such as online devices - or even the internet - that are needed for effective home-schooling.

‘Parents have done an astonishing job in such trying circumstances and to see teachers and schools going above and beyond for their pupils in response to this pandemic has been, in many instances, quite remarkable.






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‘From finding creative ways to teach lessons remotely, and even making sure the most vulnerable children do not go without meals, we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.'

Teach First is a charity which aims to build ‘a fair education for all'.






Royal biographer Penny Juror said Charles' battle with the virus means he is now 'able to understand people going through terrible times' and 'show leadership'


Through a range of school leadership programmes, the charity supports and trains teachers, leaders and schools facing the biggest challenges, serving the poorest and most disadvantaged communities across the UK.

Speaking about its work, Charles added: ‘Their work to support schools to build a fair education for all, which also produces enhanced results, is more important now than ever.

‘It will be all the more vital in the recovery ahead.

‘As our schools begin to open again and the first students return to the classroom, their job will present further challenges - helping children to get back on track with learning, https://learn.future.edu/blog/index.php?entryid=2298 and supporting them to come to terms with all they have been through.

‘This work, transforming the futures of so many young people, could hardly be more important since teachers will surely be at the heart of the nation's recovery.'













His son and daughter-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have often spoken of the difficulties of home schooling their children. The couple have Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, five, and two-year-old Prince Louis.

During a call to the organisation Conscious Youth in West Yorkshire last week, Prince William, who has a degree in geography, admitted that some of George's coursework has proved daunting at times. ‘I struggle with Year 2 maths,' he admitted.

Volunteer and parent Sophie Simpson, 38, said: ‘We were talking about the struggles of teaching at home…..I guess we totally understood their saying we can't teach maths and English like they do at school.'

Kensington Palace have refused to confirm whether Princess Charlotte, who is in reception at the private Thomas' Battersea in south west London, returned to school last week, stating her education is a ‘private matter'.






Kensington Palace have refused to confirm whether Princess Charlotte, far right, who is in reception at the private Thomas' Battersea in south west London, returned to school last week, stating her education is a ‘private matter'


But the fact that the couple have conducted video conferencing calls from their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, suggests she does not appear to have gone back to the classroom with other reception age children.

Her elder brother Prince George, six, is in Year 2 at Thomas', which is not scheduled to return yet, while two-year-old Prince Louis is cared for by the couple at home.

The family have spent lockdown at Anmer Hall, William and Kate's country house on the Queen's Sandringham Estate, and would all have to return to London from Norfolk if Charlotte were to resume her education.

There has been strong speculation, unconfirmed by palace officials, that the couple will only consider moving back to London from the country when George is able to return to school too.

Thomas' recently said in an email to parents that it will continue to organise a home learning programme for those who do not wish their children to return yet, meaning William and Kate are able to remain with their family in Norfolk.