Loving father, accomplished pilot, doting husband and second in line to the British throne.
While there’s no denying Prince William the Duke of Cambridge has an enormous responsibility ahead of him, the 35-year-old has always managed to keep his head on his shoulders and remain humble.
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 fell instantly 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.
Fans across the globe adore the charming Prince.
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.
Perhaps his most powerful legacy to date has been his inspiring efforts on mental health. Along with Catherine and his brother, Prince Harry, William has campaigned tirelessly to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging people to be more open about their struggles.
“Smashing the taboo is our biggest aim. We cannot go anywhere much until that is done. People can’t access services till they feel less ashamed, so we must tackle the taboo, the stigma, for goodness sake, this is the 21st century,” he told GQ magazine last month.
Last year, the father-of-two threw out the rule book yet again when he became the first ever royal to pose for a gay publication, gracing the cover of Attitude magazine.
As for the day he finds himself on the throne, he muses, “I take each step at it comes and it’s good when you’ve got good examples to follow. And hopefully I can try and do her some sort of justice.”
Scroll through the gallery to check out William’s remarkable life!
Prince William pictured at this year’s Trooping the Colour.
William may be a beloved Prince, but it is his role as a family man that has won over the world.
This was the first time a royal ever appeared on the cover of a gay publication.
Prince William on cover of Attitude magazine
From the moment he was born, he has been charming us with that smile.
A newborn William on the steps of the Lindo Wing.
With his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
With his blonde hair and blue eyes he shares similar features to his late mum.
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.
“I’m probably a bit of a cheeky grandson like my brother as well. We both tend to take the mickey a bit much.”
“When I was younger, my parents used to always slap my hand if I was picking my nose… I sort of understood that when I was around her I needed to be a little bit more low key and little bit more polite,” the British lad explains of learning to be well-mannered around his granny, The Queen.
Alongside 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.
William and Catherine give their first joint interview
They were married at Westminster Abbey in 2011, in a fairy-tale ceremony where they were granted the title Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
“There’s a true romantic in there,” Catherine quipped about her man.
Dancing their way to happiness.
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.
We can’t help but notice how similar Prince George is to his dad (L) in 1988.
Along with their dog, Lupo, the family was picture perfect.
Prince George was christened at St James’s Palace on 23 October 2013.
Wills took to fatherhood like a pro.
The happy family pose for an official photo.
William and Kate share a hug during their royal tour of Canada.
“We go away with wonderful memories, and George goes away with his cuddly wombat, which he has taken to chewing so lovingly,” Wills said during his tour Down Under.
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 of Cambridge.
Pictured here with big brother, Prince George.
Prince William shows his son the ropes at the timeless tradition of Trooping the Colour.
“I would like to have had her advice. I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won’t, that they will never know her,” the Prince has mused of not having Diana around.
The family-of-four on their first ski holiday together!
“I want George to grow up in a real, living environment, I don’t want him growing up behind palace walls, he has to be out there.”
“Charlotte is very easy, she is sweet,” the royal father has said of his daughter.
Last year the Cambridges toured Canada, this time with their two kids in tow.
And the world was delighted by the adventures of the tight-knit family.
Here’s to Prince William! Wishing you a very happy birthday.
