Kew Gardens: Royal Botanic Gardens
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Royal FamilyPrince William: age, Kate Middleton, children and biography
Prince William, Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, is the eldest son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was born on 21 June 1982 at St Mary's Hospital in London.
First in the line of succession since Charles III's accession to the throne in September 2022, William is expected to become King of the United Kingdom in the normal course of succession. He is married to Catherine Middleton, Princess of Wales, with whom he has three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince William at a glance: full name: William Arthur Philip Louis; born: 21 June 1982 in London; age: 44 years old; father: King Charles III; mother: Diana, Princess of Wales; wife: Catherine, Princess of Wales; children: George, Charlotte and Louis; main title: Prince of Wales; line of succession: 1st.
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Who is Prince William?
William Arthur Philip Louis is the eldest son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. He is also the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
As the monarch's eldest son, William now holds a central position within the British Royal Family. He carries out official engagements in the United Kingdom and abroad and supports the King in his duties.
Since September 2022, his main title has been Prince of Wales. He is also first in the line of succession to the British throne.
How old is Prince William?
Prince William was born on 21 June 1982 in London. He is currently 44 years old.
He was born at St Mary's Hospital in the Paddington area of London, the same hospital where his three children would later be born.
Who are Prince William's parents?
Prince William is the first son of King Charles III and Diana Spencer, better known as Diana, Princess of Wales.
His parents married in 1981 and had two sons: William, born in 1982, and Prince Harry, born in 1984.
Charles and Diana separated in 1992 before divorcing in 1996. Diana died on 31 August 1997 following a car crash in Paris. William was 15 years old at the time.
Where did Prince William study?
Prince William studied at Eton College, near Windsor. After taking a gap year, he continued his education at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
He initially studied art history before switching to geography. It was also at St Andrews that he met his future wife, Catherine Middleton.
William and Catherine's meeting at the University of St Andrews is a notable feature of the modern British monarchy: the future heir to the throne met his future wife while they were both students.
What has Prince William's career been?
His military career
After completing his university studies, William undertook military training and joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He then served as an officer in the British Army before training as a pilot.
He served in the Royal Air Force and became a search and rescue pilot. This experience enabled him to take part in rescue operations as part of his duties.
Air ambulance pilot
After leaving his operational role in the armed forces, William trained as an air ambulance pilot.
He worked for the East Anglian Air Ambulance from 2015 to 2017, taking part in emergency medical missions from his base in Cambridge.
Prince William therefore worked professionally outside his royal duties for several years, notably as a search and rescue helicopter pilot and later as an air ambulance pilot.
How did Prince William meet Kate Middleton?
Prince William and Catherine Middleton met while they were both studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Their relationship gradually became public during the 2000s. After several years together, their engagement was announced in November 2010.
William had proposed to Catherine a few weeks earlier during a trip to Kenya.
When did William and Kate get married?
Prince William and Catherine Middleton married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London.
On the occasion of his marriage, Queen Elizabeth II granted William the title of Duke of Cambridge. Catherine therefore became Duchess of Cambridge.
William was also granted the titles of Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.
Westminster Abbey holds a major place in the history of the British monarchy. In addition to William and Catherine's wedding in 2011, it traditionally hosts the coronations of British monarchs as well as many royal ceremonies.
Westminster Abbey can be visited during a stay in London, allowing visitors to discover the place where William and Catherine were married.
Who are Prince William and Kate Middleton's children?
Prince William and Catherine have three children: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales.
Prince George of Wales
Their first child, Prince George of Wales, was born on 22 July 2013 at St Mary's Hospital in London. He is currently 13 years old.
George is currently 2nd in the line of succession to the British throne, immediately after his father.
Princess Charlotte of Wales
Their second child, Princess Charlotte of Wales, was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital. She is currently 11 years old.
Charlotte is currently 3rd in the line of succession, behind her elder brother George.
Prince Louis of Wales
Their third child, Prince Louis of Wales, was born on 23 April 2018 at St Mary's Hospital. He is currently 8 years old.
Louis is currently 4th in the line of succession, behind his sister Charlotte.
The current line of succession is therefore: 1. Prince William; 2. Prince George; 3. Princess Charlotte; 4. Prince Louis. Prince Harry follows in 5th place.
Why is Prince William heir to the throne?
Prince William became heir to the British throne on 8 September 2022, when his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, died and his father became King Charles III.
As the monarch's eldest son, William is now first in the line of succession. His three children immediately follow him in the order of succession.
On Charles III's accession, William also automatically inherited the title of Duke of Cornwall in England and several associated titles in Scotland, including Duke of Rothesay.
When did William become Prince of Wales?
On 9 September 2022, the day after his accession to the throne, King Charles III announced that William would become Prince of Wales.
This title is traditionally associated with the heir to the British throne, but it is not automatically acquired when the monarch changes: it must be granted by the sovereign.
Before William, the title of Prince of Wales was held by his father Charles for more than six decades, before he became King in September 2022.
Will Prince William become King?
Prince William is currently first in the line of succession to the British throne. In the normal course of succession, he is therefore expected to become sovereign at the end of Charles III's reign.
However, it is not possible to know in advance when this succession will take place.
When he accedes to the throne, William may reign under his first name or choose one of his other names as his regnal name. It would therefore be premature to state officially that he will necessarily reign as "William V".
What are Prince William's titles?
William's main title today is Prince of Wales. He also holds several other titles linked to his position within the British monarchy.
He is notably Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Cambridge and, in Scotland, Duke of Rothesay.
The title of Duke of Cambridge, which was granted to him on his marriage in 2011, did not disappear when he became Prince of Wales: he continues to hold it.
Where do Prince William and Kate Middleton live?
The official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales is Kensington Palace in London.
Located to the west of Hyde Park, Kensington Palace is a historic royal residence, part of which is open to the public. Visitors can discover several areas connected with the history of the British monarchy.
William and Catherine divide their time between their official duties and family life with their three children.
What is Prince William's role today?
As Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, William plays a leading role within the British monarchy. He carries out public and official engagements in the United Kingdom and abroad and supports King Charles III in his duties.
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An important part of his work also focuses on charitable and social causes, particularly through the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
Environment and the Earthshot Prize
Environmental protection is one of his main areas of focus. William founded the Earthshot Prize, an international initiative designed to support solutions to major environmental challenges.
His other areas of work include tackling homelessness, mental health and supporting emergency services.
FAQ about Prince William
What is Prince William's full name?
His full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. He is now primarily known by the title Prince of Wales.
How old is Prince William?
Prince William was born on 21 June 1982 and is currently 44 years old.
Who are Prince William's parents?
Prince William is the eldest son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Who is Prince William's brother?
William's younger brother is Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, who was born on 15 September 1984.
Who is Prince William's wife?
Prince William is married to Catherine Middleton, now Princess of Wales. The couple married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey.
How many children do William and Kate have?
William and Catherine have three children: Prince George, born in 2013, Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018.
Who will be King after Charles III?
Prince William is currently first in the line of succession. In the normal course of succession, he is therefore expected to succeed King Charles III.
Who will be King after Prince William?
Prince George of Wales, the eldest son of William and Catherine, is currently second in the line of succession. He therefore comes immediately after his father.
Will William become King William V?
Not necessarily. When a sovereign accedes to the throne, they may choose a regnal name. If William chose to reign under his first name, he would become William V, but this choice is not known in advance.
When did William become Prince of Wales?
King Charles III announced on 9 September 2022 that his son William would be known as Prince of Wales, the day after his accession to the throne.
Where do William and Kate live?
The official residence of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, is Kensington Palace in London.
Summary
Prince William, born on 21 June 1982 in London, is the eldest son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. Since his father's accession to the throne in September 2022, he has been first in the line of succession to the British throne and holds the title of Prince of Wales.
He has been married to Catherine Middleton, Princess of Wales, since 2011. The couple have three children: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales, who are currently second, third and fourth in the line of succession.
Before devoting himself fully to his royal duties, William served in the armed forces and worked as an air ambulance pilot. Today, he supports the King in his official duties and leads various projects focusing in particular on the environment, social issues and mental health.
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