When we first met Prince William, he was a tiny bundle in the loving arms of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. With a head of soft blonde hair and blue eyes, the world met Diana’s young son, and their future monarch, and fell in love.
From there, William endured both triumphs and hardships in the years to come. Growing up in the public eye as the son of the ‘most photographed woman in the world’ and the future King of England, William had to live with being on full display, even during the event of his mother’s tragic death in 1997.
But from that young Prince grew a handsome man, who, after enjoying a successful military career for many years, has stepped up as an heir, a Prince, a husband and a father.
After meeting his wife, Catherine “Kate” Middleton, at St Andrew’s University in Scotland, the two formed an tight bond that eventually led to their engagement, wedding and the birth of their two children, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
Throughout the years of William’s life in the public eye, he has come to be known as kind, intelligent and distinguished, and is admired by many.
Today, on his 34th birthday, The Weekly looks back at his life, from tiny Prince to heir to the Kingdom.
Happy birthday, Prince William!
A newborn William on the steps of the Lindo Wing.
With his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
William takes after his mother, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Along with his father, Prince Charles, and mother, Princess Diana, William lived an idyllic life in England.
Two years after his birth, Prince William became a big brother to Prince Henry “Harry” of Wales.
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The two boys were very close to their mother.
Beside their parents, the Princes grew up to be charming young boys.
Before we knew it, he was a teenager.
And a handsome one at that!
It was at his university, St Andrew’s, that William met his future bride, Catherine “Kate” Middleton.
Soon after graduation, Prince William launched a successful military career.
Prince William announced his engagement to his long term girlfriend, Kate, in 2010.
They were married at Westminster Abbey in 2011, in a fairy tale wedding where they were granted the title Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The happy couple.
Who are definitely not afraid of some silly dancing.
Before long, their family of two became a family of three.
The Duke and Duchess welcomed a baby boy on July 22, 2013.
He was given the name Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.
Along with their dog, Lupo, the family was picture perfect.
Prince George was christened at St James’s Palace on 23 October 2013.
Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Hugh Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, The Hon. Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall were named as godparents.
George accompanied his parents on a tour of Australia in 2014.
The happy family.
William and Kate in Australia.
Less than two years later, it was announced that the Duke and Duchess were expecting their second child.
And on May 2nd, the Duchess gave birth to a baby girl.
She was named Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
Pictured here with big brother, Prince George.
In his last appearance, Prince William and his family (minus Princess Charlotte) appeared at the Trooping the Colour in honour of his grandmother the Queen’s birthday.
The family of four on their first ski holiday together!
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