Prince William, born Prince William of Wales on June 21, 1982, at St Mary's Hospital in London, England, is the heir apparent to the British throne and one of the most recognized members of the modern British royal family. As the elder son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, he was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and has carried the weight of royal expectation from the moment of his birth.
William was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School, and Eton College before earning a Master of Arts degree in geography at the University of St Andrews. It was there that he met his future wife, Catherine Middleton, with whom he would later share a life in the public eye. The couple married in April 2011, and together they have three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis. Immediately before his wedding, William was made Duke of Cambridge, a title that marked the beginning of a new chapter in his royal duties.
Following his university years, 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, a role that underscored his commitment to emergency services and practical public service.
Throughout his adult life, William has performed official duties and engagements on behalf of the monarch. He serves as patron of multiple charitable and military organizations, including the Tusk Trust, Centrepoint, The Passage, Wales Air Ambulance, and London's Air Ambulance Charity. Through the Royal Foundation, his philanthropic work focuses on mental health, conservation, homelessness, and support for emergency workers. In 2020, he launched the Earthshot Prize, an ambitious initiative designed to incentivize environmental solutions and reward innovative efforts to repair the planet.
William's titles evolved significantly with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Upon his father's accession to the throne on September 8, 2022, he became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, and the following day he was made Prince of Wales. As the heir apparent, he continues to balance his royal responsibilities with his dedication to charitable causes, environmental advocacy, and the well-being of his family, carrying forward the legacy of service established by his grandmother and mother before him.