William, Prince of Wales

William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.

William was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School, and Eton College. He earned a Master of Arts degree in geography at the University of St Andrews, where he met his future wife, Catherine Middleton. They have three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.

After university, William trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before serving with the Blues and Royals. In 2008, he graduated from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell and joined the RAF Search and Rescue Force in early 2009. From July 2015, he served for two years as a full‑time pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

William performs official duties and engagements on behalf of the monarch. He is patron of multiple charitable and military organisations, including the Tusk Trust, Centrepoint, The Passage, Wales Air Ambulance, and London's Air Ambulance Charity. Through the Royal Foundation, his work focuses on mental health, conservation, homelessness, and emergency workers. In 2020, he launched the Earthshot Prize, an initiative to incentivise environmental solutions.

William was made Duke of Cambridge immediately before his wedding in April 2011. He became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay upon his father's accession to the throne on 8 September 2022. The following day, he was made Prince of Wales.

Early life

William was born on June 21, 1982, at St Mary's Hospital in London. He was the first child of Charles, who later became King Charles III, and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales. William was the first person in line for the British throne to be born in a hospital.

William was given the name William Arthur Philip Louis. He was christened at Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury. When he was nine months old, he traveled with his parents to Australia and New Zealand, which was the first time a royal baby had been taken on a trip like this. He has a younger brother named Prince Harry. The brothers grew up in Kensington Palace in London and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

William and his brother had many experiences that were more normal, thanks to their mother Diana. She took them to places like Walt Disney World and McDonald's. William started doing public duties when he was very young. After his mother sadly passed away, William and Harry inherited money and many of her personal items when they became older.

Education

William went to private schools in London and nearby areas. He started at Jane Mynors' nursery school and then at Wetherby School. He later attended Ludgrove School near Wokingham, where he enjoyed sports. He then went to Eton College, where he studied geography, biology, and history of art, and played many sports.

After finishing at Eton, William took a gap year. He joined British Army training in Belize, worked on farms in England, and visited Africa. He also spent time in Chile helping with community projects and teaching English.

In 2001, William went to the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He studied art history at first but later switched to geography. He wrote his final project about coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and graduated with honors in 2005. At university, he played water polo for the Scottish national universities team. His classmates called him "Steve" so journalists would not recognize him.

Early appointments and duties

At 21, William became a Counsellor of State. In July 2005, he started his first solo public visits in New Zealand, taking part in World War II commemorations. In 2009, a private office was set up for William and his brother Harry, with an adviser named David Manning. Manning went with William on his first official tour in January 2010, visiting Auckland and Wellington. Thousands of people came to see him, and the welcome was very positive, like the one his mother received in 1983. In March 2011, William visited Christchurch after an earthquake and spoke at a memorial service. He also went to Australia to see areas affected by flooding.

Before joining the military, William worked for three weeks at places like the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange, and Lloyd's of London. He later studied agriculture management at St John's College, Cambridge, to help prepare him for managing the Duchy of Cornwall. In April 2019, it was announced that William had done a three-week internship at MI5, MI6, and GCHQ, where he learned about keeping the country safe.

Military and air ambulance service

William joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2006. After finishing a training course, he became an officer in the British Army. Because he was next in line to the throne, there were concerns about him fighting in wars. So, he trained with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force instead. He earned his pilot wings and later flew missions to help save people. In 2008, he helped catch a big amount of illegal drugs while serving on a ship.

William trained with special military groups and became a helicopter pilot with the RAF's Search and Rescue Force. He graduated in September 2010 and became the first member of the British royal family to live in Wales since Henry VII. He took part in many rescue missions, helping to save people from accidents at sea. In July 2015, William started working as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, donating his salary to the charity. He left this role in July 2017 to focus on his duties as a member of the royal family.

Personal life

Relationship with Catherine Middleton

William met Catherine Middleton in 2001 while they were both students at the University of St Andrews. They became good friends and started dating in 2003. Even though they faced some ups and downs, they stayed close through the years.

Marriage and children

Further information: Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

William and Catherine got married in 2011 at Westminster Abbey in a big ceremony that many people around the world watched. They have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The family has lived in different homes over the years, including Kensington Palace and their current home at Forest Lodge.

Duke of Cambridge

William was named Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus on the day of his wedding in April 2011. That summer, he and Catherine toured Canada. They helped support the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by attending many sports events.

William and Catherine have visited many countries to help with friendly relations between nations. In 2013, they went to Singapore, Malaysia, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands. In 2014, they traveled to New Zealand and Australia with their son George. In 2019, they toured Pakistan, which was the royal family's first visit there in 13 years. Their trips often focus on important issues like climate change and education.

Prince of Wales

Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, and William's father became King Charles III. William was named Prince of Wales by his father on 9 September. As the oldest son of the British monarch, William inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate created in 1337 to support the monarch's oldest son.

William and his wife, Catherine, visited Anglesey and Swansea in September 2022, their first trip to Wales after becoming Prince and Princess of Wales. In later years, William spoke about the importance of the monarchy staying relevant and took part in many public events, including international meetings and speeches on important topics.

Charity work

Further information: Royal Foundation

William learned about important health issues when he visited places that help people with special needs with his mother and brother. In 2005, he and his brother helped pack supplies for people who needed help after a big ocean wave. Later, he spent time in Wales helping rescue teams. In 2007, he started supporting the hospital his mother had helped, and in 2025, he became a joint patron with his wife Catherine.

William and his brother held a concert in 2007 to honor their mother and help many charities. In 2008, they rode motorcycles across South Africa to raise money for children and other groups. William has supported many different charities over the years, helping with films, sports, and ways to help young people learn new skills.

William has supported many efforts to help people during hard times, like when many needed help because of health problems around the world. He has also helped people who have lost homes and supported ways to take care of our planet.

William started helping a group that works to protect animals in Africa in 2005. He has done many things to help, like riding a bike across the continent and starting awards for people who work hard to protect nature. In 2020, he started a big project called the Earthshot Prize to find new ways to help our planet over the next ten years.

William enjoys playing sports to help raise money for charity. He supports a football team and has been a leader in groups that help with sports in England and Wales. He has talked about important issues in sports, like being kind to everyone and keeping the game fair. He has also helped start programs to teach young people useful skills through sports and has talked about how important it is to talk about feelings and health, especially for men, using sports as a way to start conversations.

Public image

William has been very popular as a member of the British royal family since he was born. People have always watched his life closely. As he grew up, many saw him as a handsome and charming young man, similar to how they saw his father. After he got married, William’s public image became more calm and family-oriented, fitting into a steady home life.

People who watch royal activities notice that William is friendly but also has a strong side, mixing in some of the unique style his mother had. Much of his work focuses on important projects instead of just small ceremonies. In one interview, William talked about wanting to keep the royal family important for many years to come. William and his wife, Catherine, work well together, both valuing normal life, privacy, and control.

Privacy and the media

The death of Diana, Princess of Wales while being chased by photographers in 1997 has influenced how William and Catherine approach the media. They have often asked for privacy when they are not on official duties.

Over the years, William has spoken out about media intrusion. In 2005, he talked about possible unauthorized access to voicemails, though it was later found that the accounts belonged to his staff, not him personally. In 2012, magazines published photos of Catherine without her permission, leading to legal action and fines against the publishers. William and Catherine have continued to protect their family’s privacy, asking for respect especially when it comes to their children. They have also spoken about the need for better rules around media and online information to prevent misinformation and protect families from unwanted attention.

Titles, styles, and honours

Further information: List of titles and honours of William, Prince of Wales

Titles and styles

William has been a British prince since he was born. Before his wedding in April 2011, he was called "His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales." On his wedding day, Queen Elizabeth II gave him new titles: Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. These titles were officially announced on May 26, 2011.

When his father became king on September 8, 2022, William automatically became the Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. For one day, he was called "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge." On September 9, 2022, his father announced that William would become the Prince of Wales, the traditional title for the heir to the British throne. Since then, William has been known as "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales," but in Scotland, he is called "His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay." The official documents giving him these titles, including that of Earl of Chester, were issued on February 13, 2023.

Honours

William holds several important honors. He is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG), an Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT), and the Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB). He is also a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom (PC) and serves as a Personal Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the queen.

Ancestry

See also: Descendants of Elizabeth II

William comes from a long royal family. Through his father, he is part of the House of Windsor and the House of Oldenburg, one of Europe's oldest royal families. His family line also includes the House of Glücksburg.

Through his mother, William is connected to the Earls Spencer, the Barons Fermoy, and other important families. His family tree even goes back to figures like King Charles II.

William’s family also has roots that trace back to Eliza Kewark, an woman from long ago who worked for a family ancestor. Tests showed that she had Indian heritage.