Prince William marks his 40th birthday on Tuesday and to celebrate, OK! is taking a look back at the moments that have defined his life so far.
The future King has married the love of his life, Kate Middleton, and welcomed three children – Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four – with her.
But what other moments have shaped the life of the Duke of Cambridge? Join us as we take a trip down memory lane…
Prince William’s ‘regret’ over his last ever conversation with his mother Princess Diana
A Prince is Born
William Arthur Philip Louis was born on 21 June 1982 at St Mary’s Hospital, London, to Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said at the time: "The baby weighs 7 and a half pounds. He cried lustily. The Prince of Wales was present."
He was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie at Buckingham Palace on 4 August.
Big Brother
At the age of two, William became a big brother to Prince Harry.
He has spoken about the happiness of his childhood, saying in an interview earlier this year: "Growing up, I was surrounded by kind of this adventure and this idea of exploring and being out in the garden.
"I used to spend hours climbing trees, digging ditches and all sorts of things – hiding in dens and all sorts round the garden."
School Years
Prince William joined Jayne Mynors’ nursery school and later Wetherby School in London.
He and Harry both then attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire before being admitted to Eton College, which went against royal tradition.
Princes Philip, Charles, Andrew and Edward all attended Gordonstoun, but Princess Diana’s father and brother attended Eton.
Holidays with Mum
Although Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, William and Harry often enjoyed trips abroad with their mum.
Here, they are photographed at Niagra Falls in Canada in 1991.
Their time in Canada was the brothers’ first overseas engagement, with William telling royal fans their trip had been "wonderful".
Living with Grief
William’s world was shattered in 1997 when Diana passed away at the untimely age of 36.
At the age of 15, William attended his mother’s funeral, being watched by the world.
Always open about his grief, William said earlier this year: "As someone who lives with his own grief, I know that what often matters most to the bereaved is that those we have lost are not forgotten."
When William Met Kate
Prince William continued his education when he enrolled to St Andrews University in Edinburgh in 2001.
It is there that he met Kate Middleton, the woman he would go on to marry.
During their engagement interview, William said of their meeting: "We were friends for over a year first and it just blossomed from then on.
"We spent more time with each other, had a good giggle, had lots of fun and realised we share in the same interests and had a good time."
A life of Service
William was admitted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2006 and was given the name Lieutenant Wales.
He later went on to train in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
In 2009, he transferred his commission to the RAF and trained to become a helicopter pilot.
Wedding Bells
William and Kate announced their engagement in November 2010 and married in April 2011 in a ceremony watched by an estimated 300million people worldwide.
The pair tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London.
Hearts melted across the world as William told his bride: "You look beautiful, you are beautiful" at the altar.
Daddy Cool
William and Kate have welcomed three children together – Prince George in 2013, Princess Charlotte in 2015, and Prince Louis in 2018.
William has opened up on becoming a father, saying in 2015: "I’m a lot more emotional than I used to be. I never used to get too wound up or worried about things. But now the smallest little things, you well up a little more, you get affected by the sort of things that happen around the world or whatever a lot more, I think, as a father.
"Just because you realise how precious life is and it puts it all in perspective. The idea of not being around to see your children grow up [is horrible]."
Family Man
Despite their busy schedules, the Royal family are obviously close knit, with William and Kate regularly joining The Queen, the late Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla at engagements.
Brothers Divided
Unfortunately, the most recent years of Prince William’s personal life have been plagued with a reported rift between him and his brother Prince Harry.
Since Harry and his wife Meghan Markle moved to the USA in 2020, the brothers have only seen each other on a handful of occasions.
It is reported that the brothers did not speak to each other during The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this month.
Read more about Prince William’s astonishing life in OK!’s royal special, William At 40. Pick up at your local newsagent for just £5.99 or you can purchase the special edition magazine online now here!
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