Prince William, born William Arthur Philip Louis on June 21, 1982, serves as heir apparent to the British throne and holds the titles Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge following King Charles III’s accession in 2022. The eldest son of Charles and the late Princess Diana, William graduated from St Andrews University, served as an RAF search and rescue pilot, and married Catherine Middleton in 2011, with whom he has three children. His extensive charitable work encompasses mental health advocacy, environmental conservation, and the Earthshot Prize climate initiative, positioning him as a modernizing force within the monarchy while maintaining institutional traditions that continue to shape his evolving public role.
Prince William, the heir apparent to the British throne, stands as one of the most prominent figures in the contemporary monarchy, embodying both traditional royal duty and modern public engagement. Born William Arthur Philip Louis on June 21, 1982, at St Mary’s Hospital in London, he represents the first child of Charles, now King Charles III, and Diana, Princess of Wales, marking the first birth to a Prince and Princess of Wales since 1905.
His early years were shaped by royal privilege and personal tragedy, as he was raised between Kensington Palace and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire alongside younger brother Prince Harry, born in 1984. At nine months old, William became the first royal baby taken on an overseas tour, accompanying his parents to Australia and New Zealand. His childhood ended abruptly when his mother Diana died in 1997, leaving William, then fifteen, to navigate adolescence under intense public scrutiny.
William’s educational journey followed traditional elite patterns, progressing from Wetherby School through Ludgrove School to Eton College. After taking a gap year that included volunteer work in Belize and Chile, he studied geography at the University of St Andrews, graduating with an MA in 2005. During his university years, he met Catherine Middleton, who would become his future wife, while maintaining a careful balance between royal obligations and typical student experiences.
His military career began at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Household Cavalry in 2006. William completed helicopter pilot training in 2010 and served with distinction in the RAF Search and Rescue Force, participating in over 100 operations in Wales before ending his military service in September 2013.
He subsequently worked as an air ambulance pilot from July 2015 to July 2017, demonstrating his commitment to public service beyond ceremonial duties.
William married Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey, receiving the titles Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, he inherited additional titles including Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales. The couple has three children: Prince George, born 2013, Princess Charlotte, born 2015, and Prince Louis, born 2018.
His public role encompasses extensive charitable work, particularly through United for Wildlife, founded in 2014, and advocacy for mental health, environmental conservation, and anti-poaching initiatives. In 2020, he announced the creation of the Earthshot Prize, an ambitious environmental award designed to incentivize innovative solutions to climate change and repair the planet. The name William itself has deep historical roots, being transmitted to England after the Norman conquest in the 11th century and becoming one of the most popular names among English nobility.
William’s measured public persona, influenced by his upbringing and personal losses, positions him as a modernizing force within the monarchy while maintaining institutional continuity.
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