William, Prince of Wales
William, Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent to the British throne and the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.
William, Prince of Wales, is the heir apparent to the British throne and the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. Born in 1982, he became Prince of Wales in September 2022 after his father acceded to the throne. He is married to Catherine, Princess of Wales, and they have three children.
Early life
William was born on 21 June 1982 in Paddington, London, as the first child of Charles, then Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. He has been a British prince since birth and was publicly known by the style Prince William of Wales before his marriage.
Marriage and family
William married Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The couple have three children and their official residence has been Kensington Palace.
Accession as heir apparent
William became heir apparent to the British throne when Queen Elizabeth II died and Charles III became king on 8 September 2022. The next day, Charles formally created him Prince of Wales.
Public duties
As Prince of Wales, William carries out official duties in support of the monarch and undertakes charitable and public work. Reporting on his public role has noted advocacy around homelessness and climate change.
Key facts
- William is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales.
- He became heir apparent when Charles III became king on 8 September 2022.
- Charles III conferred the title Prince of Wales on William on 9 September 2022.
- William married Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011.
- He and Catherine have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
William and Catherine are widely followed in Canada as senior members of the Commonwealth royal family, and their title of Prince and Princess of Wales is part of the monarchy shared by Canada as a constitutional monarchy.
Frequently asked questions
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References
- The Royal Family — https://www.royal.uk/the-prince-of-walesSupports: Birth date, marriage, children, official role and duties of the Prince of Wales.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-prince-of-WalesSupports: Birth details, parentage, heir apparent status, and title history.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William,_Prince_of_WalesSupports: Timeline of titles including creation as Prince of Wales and earlier styles.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_WalesSupports: Formal creation of William as Prince of Wales and documentation by letters patent.
- BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-62870604Supports: Public announcement of William and Catherine as Prince and Princess of Wales.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/video/biography-of-prince-william-prince-of-wales-eldest-son-to-king-charles-iii-and-princess-diana-heir-apparent-to-british-thrown/-301644Supports: Overview of William's public role and advocacy interests.