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William is the first British heir apparent born at a hospital (St. Mary’s in London). His childhood also differed from earlier royals. Most notably, he and his younger brother, Prince Harry, were exposed to a world beyond royal privilege by their mother, who sought to give her sons a “normal” upbringing. As a result, the boys took public transportation, went to fast food restaurants, and visited homeless shelters and orphanages. William received his early education at Wetherby School in London and later attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire (1990–95) and Eton College in Windsor (1995–2000).

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William and Catherine

After a tumultuous marriage, William’s parents divorced in 1996. The following year, Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris. William, who was 15 years old, was admired for his public poise and grace in the wake of her death. The image of him and 12-year-old Harry walking solemnly behind Diana’s casket as it was carried through the streets of London did much to endear the brothers to the British public. While William rarely spoke publicly about his mother’s death, he stated in a speech during a tour of Scotland in 2021 that “Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memories. But also, my saddest. I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died.” He went on to note that he found solace in the Scottish outdoors.

In 2006 William entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Despite his willingness to join British forces in Iraq, military officials suggested that neither William nor Harry should serve there, because they could become specific targets of attack, thereby putting their fellow soldiers at risk (Harry later served two tours of duty in Afghanistan...

William ranks among the most popular figures of the royal family, known for his ease and relatability, traits that his mother also possessed. In various ways, William has sought to honour Princess Diana’s legacy. In 2007 he and Harry organized a London memorial service to mark the 10-year anniversary of her death. The two later commissioned a statue of their mother, and it was unveiled on the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2021.

Much like his father, William is an avid sportsman and an environmental activist. In 2020 he announced the creation of the Earthshot Prize, which was inspired by U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” initiative to send a man to the Moon. It was to be awarded in five categories over 10 years, and the goal was to “repair the planet.” The first prizes were presented in 2021.

While William has largely avoided the scandals that plagued his parents, his relationship with Harry became fodder for the tabloids beginning in 2020. That year Harry and his wife, Meghan, duchess of Sussex, announced that they would “step back” from their royal duties. The brothers’ relationship became increasingly strained, especially after Harry and Meghan publicly criticized the royal family. During a discussion about racism, Harry claimed that there was “a huge level of unconscious bias” among family members. This came as the monarchy faced an intensifying backlash over its colonial legacy of exploitation, repression, and slavery. During a Caribbean tour in 2022, William and Catherine encountered protests as many countries in the region considered removing the British monarch as head of state. William later said that “racism…has no place in our society.”

On September 8, 2022, Elizabeth II died, and Charles became king. William became heir apparent and inherited the title duke of Cornwall from his father, who soon conferred the additional title prince of Wales upon William.