The BBC's royal Correspondent Jenny Bond reports on Prince Harry's first day at Eton

The 13-year-old Prince was driven to the exclusive Berkshire school in a Vauxhall estate car with his father, the Prince of Wales.

They posed briefly for photographers - Harry managing a smile - before entering Manor House where the teenage Prince will be a boarder with his older brother, Prince William, 16.

The Royals took tea with housemaster Dr Andrew Gailey and his wife Shauna, and the parents of other boys starting at the school before being shown Harry's room.

Signed the resister

Harry, who was wearing a light-green sports jacket as he arrived at his new school on Wednesday, was also introduced to the "Dame" or matron of Manor House, Elizabeth Heathcote.

Although the Prince of Wales was understood to be beside Harry as he signed the register book to enrol, the event is expected to highlight the absence of the boys' mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The princes earlier asked the nation to let their mother's memory rest in peace, and put an end to public mourning.

Prince Harry will be in the same house as William

Prince Harry will be a boarder at Eton's Manor House, which has been the home from home for William for the past three years.

He will have his own room, although a full-time bodyguard will occupy the one next door to him.

All boys at Eton have a maid, who makes their beds, tidies their rooms and does their laundry.

Prince Harry, like his brother, will also wear the Eton uniform of black tailcoat, waistcoat and stiff collar, all of which date back to the fashion of the 19th century.

Prince Harry delighted the Royal Family by passing his Common Entrance Exam and is said to have been very keen to join Eton.

He was said to have wanted to be at the same school as his brother.

Improved accademic performance

The Royal Family also felt Eton was acceptable because of its proximity to Windsor Castle, a regular weekend residence of the Queen.

Prince Harry's maternal grandfather and uncle, the Earl of Spencer, were also both educated at Eton.

However, it has been said that had Diana lived, she may not have picked Eton for Prince Harry.

Concerned that he was perhaps not as academically inclined as Prince William, the princess was said to be considering Radley College, in Oxfordshire, and Milton Abbey, in Dorset, as two other options.

But because Prince Harry was born in September, he has been able to spend an extra year at his prep school, Ludgrove, to improve his academic performance.