Born a prince, with a legacy that befitted a future King of England, William was still just a boy. Now known as The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William is a husband, father, son, and beloved royal. William is the son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. After his father, Charles, Prince of Wales, William is second-in-line to the throne, followed by his son Prince George.
Birth
William was born on 21 June 1982 at nearby St Mary’s Hospital in London. No one would ever forget a young Diana stepping out onto those hospital steps while holding a young William. At the time, William had not yet been given a name but was now second in line to a thousand-year-old throne. A week later, Buckingham Palace announced his full name would be William Arthur Philip Louis. On the 4th of August, crowds gathered to commemorate the Queen’s birthday, but would also come together to celebrate the baptism of Prince William.
Early Life
When he was only a few years old, William attended Mrs Mynor’s Nursery school in West London, followed by a three-year stint in Wetherby School. By the time he was eight-years-old, William had made another transition to Ludgrove School in Wokingham. In 1995, William entered one of England’s most respected secondary schools, Eton College. During his time at Eton, William excelled in his studies, along with many sports at the school.
A few years later tragedy would strike and would leave a young William devastated. In 1996, William was alerted that his parents would be getting a divorce – an event that would be difficult for any child. Regardless of the divorce, Diana, Princess of Wales tried to give William, and his younger brother Harry, experiences that were normal for young children. On one occasion, Diana took her two boys to Walt Disney World followed by a trip to McDonald’s. One year later on the heels of his parent’s divorce, Prince William found out his mother, Diana, was in a fatal car crash in Paris. At his mother’s funeral, a sombre William, accompanied by his brother, father, paternal grandfather, and maternal uncle, walked behind the funeral procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Millions of viewers watched a brave William mourn the loss of his mother, which revealed a strength that suited a future king.
Military Service
Early on in his life, William committed to a life of service, not only as a royal but also as a military officer. In 2005, William underwent military selection in Wiltshire, and from there was admitted into the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Upon completing his course at Sandhurst, William became a second lieutenant, an achievement which was celebrated by the Royal Family.
Though William sought active duty, it was decided that the safety of the second-in-line to the throne was more important, hence why he went on to train with the Royal Navy and Air Force. After an impressive military service, William took up service as a search and rescue pilot, a place where he could make a difference without the dangers of combat. William later began working as an Air Ambulance Pilot and would donate his yearly salary to an Air Ambulance Charity.
Marriage & Adulthood
As William grew older, he decided to attend St Andrews University, where he ended up getting a degree in geography. During his time at St Andrew’s, William began a relationship with his then flatmate, Catherine Middleton. The first event Catherine attended as Williams guest was a parade at Sandhurst, which would initiate a paparazzi frenzy.
After meeting in 2003, William and Catherine tried to maintain a normal relationship while dealing with the harsh realities of life in the public eye. For a short time in 2007, the young couple split, but was again seen together at a tribute concert in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. It was clear that these two were again a couple, and one many fans hoped would soon wed.
In 2010, a wedding announcement was released by Clarence House, which overjoyed royal fans around the world about the impending nuptials. William proposed to Catherine with the blue sapphire ring that belonged to his mother, making that moment all the more special. On the morning of his wedding, the 29 April 2011, it was announced that William would now be recognised as The Duke of Cambridge.
As millions of fans gathered around Westminster Abbey to get a glimpse of the royal couple, William was just like any other man ready to marry the love of his life. While Catherine walked down the aisle, Prince Harry glanced over his shoulder and then whispered into his brother’s ear. It is not known what Harry whispered to William but was a nod to the great affection these two shared.
Upon marrying, William and Catherine gained much attention and had a world that awaited their every movement. When it was announced that the Duchess of Cambridge was pregnant, the world stopped and waited for the birth of the future Prince George.
The day the Duchess gave birth was a reminder of the day William was born. With Prince George in tow, Catherine stepped out of the hospital a day after giving birth looking radiant. Nearly two years later, the royal watchers were graced with the couple’s first daughter, Princess Charlotte. From the moment William was born the media has watched his every move, but now he had a family of his own. This young family has now captured the hearts of people everywhere, which is clear by the media storm that followed them on their 2016 trip to Canada. Fans can’t get enough.
In 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their third child. On 23 April 2018, they welcomed Prince Louis into the world at the Lindo Wing.
The Legacy of a Future King
Following in the steps of his parents, William became a humanitarian trying to make a difference in the lives of others. William, along with his brother Harry, donated their time to the Red Cross where they packed emergency supplies. Soon after that, William granted his patronage to Centrepoint, a charity for the homeless. Diana had once been the patron of the organisation. Over the years William has given his patronage to many charities and has continued his good works with the help of his wife.
Someday William will be king, but we should not forget how well he has balanced his royal duties with creating a family of his own. His legacy will be that of a proud father, devoted husband, and a loyal royal devoted to the crown.
