William was born at 9:03 pm on 21 June 1982 at St Mary's Hospital, London, as the first child of Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III), and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.^[3][4][5] He was the first direct heir to the British throne to be born in a hospital.^[6] Buckingham Palace announced his name – William Arthur Philip Louis – on 28 June.^[3] William was christened in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, on 4 August, coinciding with the 82nd birthday of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.^[7][c]

William was the first child born to a Prince and Princess of Wales since Prince John was born to Prince George and Princess Mary (later King George V and Queen Mary) in July 1905.^[9] When he was nine months old, William accompanied his parents on their 1983 tour of Australia and New Zealand, as his first trip overseas.^[10] It also marked the first time that a royal baby was taken on an overseas tour.^[11] Family photographs of William and his parents on the grounds of Government House in Auckland, New Zealand, received significant global coverage,^[12] and have been identified as a major reason why the Buzzy Bee, the toy which William was playing with, became a New Zealand cultural icon.^[13]

His younger brother, Prince Harry, was born in September 1984. Both of them were raised at Kensington Palace in London, and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.^[14][15][16]

Known informally as "Wills" within his family,^[17] William was nicknamed "Willy" by his brother and "Wombat" by his mother.^[18][19] Diana wished her sons to obtain broader and more typical life experiences beyond royal upbringing, taking them to Walt Disney World, McDonald's, AIDS clinics and shelters for the homeless.^[20] The biographer Robert Lacey asserts that William, described as a "rambunctious" and "bratty" child, became "more reflective" with a "noticeably quiet character" as he began boarding school.^[21] Diana was reported to have described William as "my little wise old man" on whom she started to rely as her confidant by his early teens.^[22]

William carried out his first public engagement while accompanying his parents on a visit to Llandaff on Saint David's Day in 1991.^[23] He and Harry travelled to Canada on an official visit with their parents in 1991 and again with Charles in 1998.^[24][25] William's parents divorced in 1996. Diana died in a car accident in the early hours of 31 August 1997. William, then aged 15, together with his 12-year-old brother and their father, was staying at Balmoral Castle at the time. The following morning, Charles informed William and Harry of their mother's death.^[26] William was reportedly uncertain as to whether he should walk behind his mother's coffin during the funeral procession. His grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, told him: "If you don't walk, I think you'll regret it later. If I walk, will you walk with me?".^[27] At the funeral, William and Harry walked alongside their father, grandfather, and maternal uncle, Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, behind the funeral cortège from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey.^[28]

After his mother's death, William stated that he was "in a state of shock for many years".^[29] He and Harry inherited the majority of the £12.9 million left by their mother on their respective 30th birthdays, a figure that had grown to £10 million each by 2014.^[30][31] In 2014 the brothers inherited their mother's wedding dress along with many other of her personal possessions including dresses, diamond tiaras, jewels, letters and paintings. They also received the original lyrics and score of "Candle in the Wind" by Bernie Taupin and Elton John as performed by the latter at Diana's funeral.^[31] In 2002 The Times reported that William and Harry would also share £4.9 million from trust funds established by their great-grandmother on their respective 21st birthdays, as well as £8 million upon their respective 40th birthdays.^[32]

William was educated at private schools. He started at Jane Mynors' nursery school and the pre-preparatory Wetherby School (both in London) before continuing at Ludgrove School near Wokingham, Berkshire.^[33][34] At Ludgrove, William was active in sport before being admitted to Eton College, where he studied geography, biology, and history of art at A-Level. He also took part in several sports.^[35][36]

The decision to send William to Eton broke with royal tradition, as his father and grandfather had both attended Gordonstoun.^[37] The royal family and the press agreed William would be allowed to study free from media intrusion in exchange for periodic official updates.^[38] In June 1991, William was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after being accidentally hit on the forehead by a fellow pupil wielding a golf club. He suffered a depressed fracture of the skull and was operated on at Great Ormond Street Hospital, resulting in a permanent scar.^[39] The incident received widespread media attention.^[40] After leaving Eton, William took a gap year. He joined British Army training exercises in Belize,^[41] worked on English dairy farms, and visited Africa. He also spent ten weeks in southern Chile with Raleigh International, taking part in community projects and teaching English.^[42]

In 2001 William enrolled at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.^[43][44] Similar to his time at Eton, the media agreed not to invade his privacy, and students were warned not to leak stories to the press.^[45] William embarked on a degree course in art history but later changed his main subject to geography. He focused his dissertation on the Indian Ocean's Rodrigues coral reefs and graduated with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree with upper second class honours in 2005.^[46][47] While at university, he represented the Scottish national universities water polo team at the Celtic Nations tournament in 2004.^[48] He was reportedly known as "Steve" by other students to avoid any journalists realising his identity.^[49]

At the age of 21, William became a Counsellor of State.^[50] In July 2005, he undertook his first solo public engagements on an overseas tour of New Zealand, travelling to participate in World War II commemorations.^[51] In 2009 the Queen set up a private office for William and Harry with David Manning as their adviser.^[52] Manning accompanied William on his first official tour in January 2010 as the latter toured Auckland and Wellington.^[53][54] The visit spurred crowds of "many thousands", with positive public reception compared to that of his mother's 1983 tour.^[55] In March 2011, William visited Christchurch, New Zealand, shortly after the earthquake,^[56] and spoke at the memorial service at Hagley Park on behalf of his grandmother.^[57] He also travelled to Australia to visit areas affected by flooding in Queensland and Victoria.^[58][59]

Before attending Sandhurst, William did a three-week internship at several institutions, including the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange and Lloyd's of London.^[60] To prepare for his eventual management of the Duchy of Cornwall, in 2014, he entered St John's College, Cambridge to undertake an executive agriculture management degree run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), of which his father is patron.^[61][62] In April 2019, Kensington Palace announced that William had completed a three-week internship at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ,^[60] during which he was tasked with monitoring extreme Islamist terror cells, identifying potential threats abroad, and observing code breaking technology.^[63]

Having decided on a military career, William was admitted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2006; his admission was based on successfully completing a 44-week course as an Officer Cadet which led to his commission as a British Army officer.^[64][65] As "Lieutenant Wales" – a name based on his father's then title Prince of Wales – he followed his brother^[66] into the Blues and Royals in December that year as a second lieutenant after which he spent five months training for the post at Bovington Camp in Dorset.^[67][68]

Despite the Queen's approval for William to serve on the frontline, his position as second-in-line to the throne at the time cast doubts on his chances of seeing combat.^[69] Plans by the Ministry of Defence to send William to Southern Iraq leaked and the government eventually decided against sending him as it would endanger both his life and the lives of people around him if he was targeted.^[70] William instead trained in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, obtaining his commission as a sub-lieutenant in the former and a flying officer in the latter, both broadly equivalent to the army rank of lieutenant. After completing his training, he undertook an attachment with the Royal Air Force at RAF Cranwell.^[71][72]

Upon completing the course he was presented with his RAF wings by his father,^[73] who had received his own wings after training at Cranwell.^[74] During this secondment, William flew to Afghanistan in a C-17 Globemaster that repatriated the body of Trooper Robert Pearson.^[75] William was then seconded to train with the Royal Navy.^[76] He then completed an accelerated Naval Officer training course at the Britannia Royal Naval College.^[76] Whilst serving on HMS Iron Duke in July 2008, William participated in a £40m drug seizure in the Atlantic, north-east of Barbados.^[77] He was part of the crew on the Lynx helicopter which helped seize 900 kg of cocaine from a speedboat.^[78]

In January 2009, William transferred his commission to the RAF and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. He trained to become a helicopter pilot with the RAF's Search and Rescue Force.^[79] As part of his training across all branches of the military in 2009, he spent up to six weeks with the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment.^[80] In January 2010, he graduated from the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury.^[81] In the same month, he transferred to the Search and Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley, Anglesey, to receive training on the Sea King search and rescue helicopter; he graduated in September 2010.^[82][83] This made him the first member of the British royal family since Henry VII to live in Wales.^[84]

William's first rescue mission as co-pilot of a RAF Sea King was in response to an emergency call from Liverpool Coastguard in October 2010.^[85] In November 2011, he participated in a search-and-rescue mission involving a cargo ship that was sinking in the Irish Sea; William, as a co-pilot, helped rescue two sailors.^[86] He was deployed to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour with No. 1564 Flight from February to March 2012.^[87][88] The Argentine government condemned William's deployment to the islands close to the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands War as a "provocative act".^[89][90] In June 2012, he gained a qualification to be captain or pilot in command of a Sea King rather than a co-pilot.^[91] His active service as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot ended in September 2013.^[92][93] He conducted 156 search and rescue operations, which resulted in 149 people being rescued.^[94] He later became patron of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.^[95]

In July 2015, William began working full-time as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) based at Cambridge Airport, which he felt was a natural progression from his previous search-and-rescue role.^[96][97] He donated his full salary to the EAAA charity.^[97] William required a civil pilot's licence and further training before being permitted to begin his role.^[97] He underwent part of his training at Norwich Airport.^[98] William described working irregular shifts and dealing mostly with critical care cases.^[99] He also discussed the impact of witnessing intensive trauma and bereavement on his mental health and personal life.^[100] The BBC has written that William was "exposed to the National Health Service in a way that no other senior royal has been or possibly ever will be."^[101]

William left his position with EAAA in July 2017 to assume full-time royal duties.^[102][101] After supporting an anniversary campaign for London's Air Ambulance Charity in 2019, he became the charity's official patron in March 2020.^[103] In May 2020, he granted permission to the charity to use Kensington Palace's private lawn to refuel during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[104] In February 2023, he became patron of the Wales Air Ambulance charity.^[105]

In 2001 William met Catherine Middleton, while they were students in residence at St Salvator's Hall, at the University of St Andrews, and they became close friends.^[106][107] She reportedly caught William's attention at a charity fashion show at the university in 2002.^[108] During their second year, William shared a flat with Middleton and two other friends.^[109] The couple began dating in 2003.^[110] From 2003 to 2005 they both resided at Balgove House on the Strathtyrum estate with two roommates.^[111] They began staying at a cottage on the Balmoral estate known as Tam-Na-Ghar, which was a gift from the Queen Mother to William shortly before her death. The property has remained a private retreat for the couple in subsequent years.^[112] In 2004 the couple briefly split but reconciled soon afterwards.^[113]

The relationship was followed closely by the tabloid press.^[114][115] Media attention became so intense that William asked the press to keep their distance from Middleton.^[115] In December 2006, Middleton and her family attended William's passing out parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.^[116][117] In April 2007, William and Middleton were reported to have split.^[114] Middleton and her family attended the Concert for Diana three months later;^[109] the couple were subsequently reported to have "rekindled their relationship".^[118] She also attended the Order of the Garter procession at Windsor Castle in June 2008, where William was made a Royal Knight of the Garter.^[119] In June 2010, the couple moved into a cottage on the Bodorgan Estate in Anglesey, Wales, where they resided until 2014.^{[120][121][122]}

The couple became engaged in October 2010, at a remote alpine cabin on Mount Kenya, during a 10-day trip to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to celebrate William's passing the RAF helicopter search and rescue course.^[123] Clarence House announced their engagement on 16 November.^[124] William gave his fiancée his mother's engagement ring.^[125] The wedding took place in Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011.^[126] The global audience for the wedding ranged around 300 million, whereas 26 million watched the event live in Britain alone.^[127][128]

William and Catherine used Nottingham Cottage as their London residence until 2013, when £4.5 million renovations completed at Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, which continues to be their official residence in the capital.^{[129][130][131]} The couple were given the country house Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham House estate, as a wedding gift from the Queen, where they lived from 2015 to 2017.^[132][133] Kensington Palace was the couple's primary residence until 2022; Adelaide Cottage in Windsor is their current residence.^{[134][135][136]}

Catherine was admitted on 22 July 2013 to the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London, where Prince William had been delivered. Later that day, she gave birth to Prince George.^[137][138] She was admitted on 2 May 2015 to the same hospital where she gave birth to Princess Charlotte the same day.^[139] Their third child, Prince Louis, was born on 23 April 2018.^[140] William and Catherine have owned two English Cocker Spaniels, named Lupo and Orla.^[141][142]

William was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus on the day of his wedding in April 2011.^[143][144] He and Catherine toured Canada that summer.^[145] Nicholas Witchell, writing for BBC News, described the tour as an "unqualified success", noting the couple's relaxed approach—from tree planting to street hockey—charmed the public and bolstered support for the monarchy.^[146] The couple served as ambassadors for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, during multiple sporting events throughout the games.^[147]

In September 2013, William and Catherine visited Singapore, Malaysia, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.^[148] William hosted his first investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in October that year.^[149] In April 2014, he and Catherine undertook a royal tour to New Zealand and Australia accompanied by their son George.^[150] In August that year, the couple along with Prince Harry represented the royal family at World War I commemorations in Belgium.^[151] In December, the couple visited New York and Washington DC, where William made a speech at the World Bank condemning the illegal trade in wildlife.^[152][153]

In 2015 and 2016 William embarked on various visits of Asian countries, including Japan, China, Bhutan and India;^{[154][155][156]} he was the first royal to visit mainland China in almost three decades, with the press referring to William's diplomacy as "deft" and "polished".^{[157][158][159]} In response to media allegations of being "work-shy", he asserted his commitment to his duties, emphasising his dedication to fatherhood and his role in air ambulance work.^[160] Countries visited by William and Catherine in 2017 included France, Poland, Germany, and Belgium.^{[161][162][163][164]} In January 2018 the couple visited Sweden and Norway.^[165] The visits were, like others, requested by the Foreign Office, and interpreted to benefit UK-European relations post Brexit.^{[166][167][168]} In June 2018, William toured Jordan, Israel and Palestine.^[169][170]

William and Catherine toured Pakistan in October 2019, which was the royal family's first visit to the country in 13 years.^[171] The tour was a success, helping promote diplomatic relations with Pakistan while also reflecting the couple's personal interests in climate change and the significance of quality education.^[172] In November 2020, it was reported that William had tested positive for COVID-19 in April but decided not to alert the media to 'avoid alarming the nation'.^[173] The Daily Telegraph reported he had been "very ill" and had isolated away from his family;^[174] other sources said that he had not been seriously ill, not bed-ridden and working for most of the time.^[175] In December that year, the couple embarked on a tour of England, Scotland, and Wales via the British royal train "to pay tribute to the inspiring work" of communities and charities in 2020.^[176][177] Boris Johnson expressed his support, while Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised the tour, citing travel restrictions; local governments were consulted before planning the tour.^[178][179]

In William's capacity as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, he and Catherine toured the country in May 2021.^[180] The couple attended the G7 summit for the first time in June 2021 in Cornwall.^{[181][182][183]} In March 2022, they embarked on a tour of Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.^[184][185] Reparations for slavery emerged as a major demand of public protesters during the couple's visit.^[186] During the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument in London, William described the tour as "an opportunity to reflect" and condemned racism faced by both members of the Windrush generation and British minorities in 2022.^[187][188] In May 2022, he attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time as a counsellor of state, where his father delivered the Queen's Speech on behalf of Elizabeth II.^[189]

Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, and William's father succeeded as Charles III. William, now heir apparent, was created Prince of Wales by his father on 9 September.^[190] Controversy regarding the title became a topic of public debate in Wales.^[191] Senedd Llywydd Elin Jones said an investiture was not constitutionally required and likely unnecessary, a view echoed by Kensington Palace, which stated it was "not on the table".^[192][193] As the eldest son of the British monarch, William inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, a £1.3 billion private estate established in 1337 to provide a private income to the monarch's eldest son.^{[194][195][61]} The duchy paid him £23.6 million in his first full year as Duke of Cornwall.^[196]

William and Catherine visited Anglesey and Swansea on 27 September 2022, which marked their first visit to Wales since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales.^[197] In February 2023, William and Catherine visited Falmouth, marking their first visit to the region since becoming Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.^[198] In October 2023, William and Catherine condemned the Hamas-led attack on Israel.^[199] In February 2024, he visited the British Red Cross headquarters, met aid workers assisting civilians in the Israel–Gaza conflict, and issued a government-approved call to end the fighting.^[200] Later that month, William pulled out at the last moment from the thanksgiving service of his godfather, Constantine II of Greece, due to an undisclosed "personal matter".^[201] In December 2024, William attended the official reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris during which he greeted the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, and later held a private meeting with him to discuss the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States.^[202] In April 2025, William attended the funeral of Pope Francis in place of his father.^[203] In October 2025, William appeared on the Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveler, described by commentators as his "most open and authentic" interview, in which he discussed his family life and the need for the monarchy to remain "fit for purpose".^[204]

William became aware of HIV/AIDS in the mid-1990s when he accompanied his mother and brother on visits to shelters and clinics for patients. In January 2005, he and Harry volunteered at a British Red Cross aid distribution centre to pack emergency supplies for countries affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.^[205] Later, that December, William spent two weeks in North Wales with Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW).^[206] In May 2007, he became patron of MREW and president of the Royal Marsden Hospital, the latter of which was a role previously held by his mother.^[207] In January 2025, William was announced as the hospital's joint royal patron alongside his wife, Catherine.^[208]

In July 2007, William and Harry organised the Concert for Diana, in memory of their mother, which benefitted the charities and patronages of Diana, William, and Harry.^[209] In October 2008, the brothers embarked on the 1,000 mile eight-day Enduro Africa motorbike ride across South Africa to raise money for Sentebale, UNICEF and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.^[210] In 2010 William became a patron of 100 Women in Hedge Funds' philanthropic initiatives for the following three years until 2012.^[211] The same year, he succeeded Lord Attenborough as the fifth president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).^[212] BAFTA has since set up the Prince William BAFTA Bursary to help junior creatives in the UK to cover costs needed to progress in their careers in film, TV or games.^[213] In March 2011, he and Catherine set up a gift fund held by The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry to allow well-wishers to donate money to charities supporting the armed forces, children, the elderly, art, sport and conservation in lieu of gifts.^[214] The foundation was renamed The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales in September 2022.^[215]

In March 2020, William appeared in a video for the National Emergencies Trust, launching a fundraising appeal to support charities during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[216] In April 2020, he officially became patron of the organisation.^[216]

In December 2020, William and Catherine became joint patrons of NHS Charities Together.^[217] In February 2021, he visited a vaccination centre in King's Lynn and later encouraged use of the vaccine, denouncing false information that could cause vaccine hesitancy.^[218][219] In September 2021, he reportedly helped evacuate a Sandhurst-trained Afghan officer and his family from Kabul during the 2021 Taliban offensive.^[220][221] In March 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, William and Catherine made a donation to help the refugees.^[222] In February 2023, they donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which was helping victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.^[223] In July 2023, William became patron of the appeal to launch The Fleming Centre, driving a new global movement to tackle antimicrobial resistance.^[224] In July 2024, he and Catherine made donations to help victims of Hurricane Beryl.^[225] In January 2025, William was announced as patron of the College of Paramedics.^[226][227]

William became patron of the Tusk Trust in December 2005, a charity that works towards conserving wildlife and initiating community development across Africa.^[228] He carried out his first official duty with the Trust in launching a 5,000-mile (8,000 km) bike ride across the African continent in April 2008.^[229] Later, William helped with launching the Tusk Conservation Awards, which have been presented to selected environmental activists annually since 2013.^[230] In June 2010, he and his brother visited Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa, undertaking projects relating to wildlife, sport, and young children.^[231] In 2013 he succeeded his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, as president of Fields in Trust and transitioned into the role of patron in 2024.^[232][233] He established the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce in December 2014, with the goal of reducing global illegal wildlife trade.^[234] In 2014 Jane Goodall stated that William had expressed the view that all ivory in the royal collection needed to be destroyed.^[235] William has occasionally commented on the effects of overpopulation on the wildlife of Africa, but his remarks have been criticised in the media for not taking resource consumption and population density into consideration.^[236]

After two years of research, William launched the Earthshot Prize in October 2020, designed to provide funding and incentive for environmental solutions over the next decade.^[237] Following the launch, he gave a TED Talk on environmental protection and conservation as part of the TED Countdown climate change initiative.^[238] Later that month, William took over the patronages of Fauna and Flora International and the British Trust for Ornithology, passed on from his grandparents.^[239] In the same month, he appeared in an ITV documentary titled Prince William: A Planet For Us All to discuss environmental issues.^[240]

In 2021 William made a private donation to the Thin Green Line Foundation, which provides grants for the relatives of conservation park rangers that are killed every year while protecting wildlife.^[241] In July 2022, he condemned the murder of South African park ranger Anton Mzimba and asked for the responsible parties to "be brought to justice".^[242] William has called for stricter penalties for poachers and wildlife traffickers, having spoken at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in 2018 and supported a court sentencing in the United States to a man responsible for trafficking rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory in 2022.^[243][244]

William has spoken out for LGBT rights as part of his work against cyberbullying, stating the importance of being "proud of the person you are" and discussing the effects of online abuse and discrimination.^[245] In 2016 he appeared in the July issue of Attitude and became the first member of the royal family to be featured on the cover of a gay magazine.^[246] He was recognised at the British LGBT Awards in May 2017.^[245] William hosted a commemorative Pride Month discussion with mental health charity volunteers at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in June 2023.^[247]

Since 2009, William has been patron of Child Bereavement UK, which provides support to children and families who have lost a loved one.^[248] In 2016 the Royal Foundation launched multiple mental health initiatives, including Heads Together, a campaign led by William, Catherine and Harry to de-stigmatise mental health.^[249] Legacy programmes include Mental Health at Work, launched in September 2018 to change the approach to workplace mental health in the United Kingdom, as well as Heads Up, launched in May 2019 in partnership with the Football Association, utilising football to affect the conversation surrounding mental health in adults.^[250] Later that month, William and Catherine, together with William's brother Harry and sister-in-law Meghan, launched Shout, the United Kingdom's first 24/7 text messaging service for those who suffer from mental issues.^[251] William later volunteered on the crisis helpline during the COVID-19 lockdowns to provide support via text message.^[252] He attributes his interest in mental health to his experiences as an air ambulance pilot, his work with the homeless, veterans' welfare, and his wife's anti-addiction advocacy.^[29]

In March 2020, William and Catherine began supporting a new mental health initiative by the Public Health England agency amidst the coronavirus pandemic.^[253] In April 2020, the couple announced Our Frontline, an initiative providing mental health support to emergency medical workers.^[254] In September 2020, William established the Emergency Responders Senior Leaders Board, commissioned by the foundation to research the mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders, in partnership with King's College London and the Open University.^[255] In May 2021 and 2022, William and Catherine voiced the Mental Health Minute message, which was broadcast on every radio station in the United Kingdom on and asked people to help individuals around them that suffer from loneliness.^[256][257] In October 2022, to mark the World Mental Health Day, the couple took over Newsbeat and interviewed four guests on topics related to mental health.^[258] In September 2023, William unveiled two organizations that had partnered with the Duchy of Cornwall to raise better mental well-being and provide mental health services for all its tenants.^[259][260] In October 2023 and to mark World Mental Health Day, he and Catherine took part in a forum for young people in Birmingham, alongside BBC Radio 1 and charity called The Mix, called Exploring our Emotional Worlds continuing their longstanding work to promote mental well-being.^[261] In May 2024, he announced a three-year funding package for the charity We Are Farming Minds to provide mental health support for farmers on the Duchy of Cornwall lands.^[262] In December 2024, he and Catherine announced that they were jointly funding a pilot scheme with the charity Norfolk and Waveney Mind to offer extra support for rural and farming communities on the Sandringham estate.^[263] In March 2025, William was announced as patron of We Are Farming Minds.^[264][265]

In September 2005, William became patron of Centrepoint, a charity that assists the homeless.^[266] In December 2009, as part of a Centrepoint-organised event, the prince spent the night in a sleeping bag near Blackfriars Bridge to raise awareness of the experiences of homeless youth.^[267] He opened their new facility, Apprenticeship House, in November 2019 to mark their 50th anniversary.^[268]

William has been patron of homelessness charity The Passage since 2019 after first visiting the centre in 1993 with his mother.^[269][270] In October 2020, he wrote the introduction to the organisation's 40th-anniversary fundraising cookbook, discussing the importance of helping victims of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[271] In December 2020, William volunteered at the charity to help prepare donation bags for homeless residents in emergency hotel accommodations and spoke with residents about their experiences.^[272] In 2022 and 2023 he was spotted selling copies of The Big Issue, usually sold by homeless and unemployed people to earn money.^[273][274]

In June 2023, William launched Homewards after two years of development, with aims to end homelessness in the United Kingdom.^[275][276] The five-year initiative aims to tackle homelessness in six pilot locations across the United Kingdom with an initial seed funding allocated for each area by the Royal Foundation, working with existing private sector and grassroots charity partners.^[275] The project focuses on early intervention and providing housing to families before other issues, such as abuse and joblessness, are addressed.^[276] In February 2024, William, in partnership with Cornish charity St Petrocs, announced plans for building 24 homes on Duchy of Cornwall land in Nansledan to provide temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness in the area.^[277] Future plans include building more than 400 social rented homes and a further 475 affordable dwellings in South East Faversham.^[278]

William often plays polo to raise money for charity.^[279] He is a fan of football, and supports the English club Aston Villa.^[280] He became president of England's Football Association (FA) in May 2006 and vice-royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in February 2007, supporting the Queen as patron.^[281] The same year, the WRU's decision to name the Prince William Cup drew criticism as some believed it would have been more appropriate to name it after Ray Gravell.^[282][283] William became patron of the WRU and the FA in 2016 and 2024, respectively.^[284][233]

In December 2010, William, alongside David Cameron, attended a meeting with FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon at which Chung suggested a vote-trading deal for the right to host the 2018 World Cup in England. The English delegation reported the suggestion to FIFA, considering it a violation of anti-collusion rules.^[285][286] In 2011 William, as president of the English FA, voted against Australia's 2022 FIFA bid and instead voted for South Korea, despite being Australia's future heir. In 2020 he voted against the joint Australia–New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup bid and instead voted for Colombia.^[287]

In February 2021, following an investigation into racism directed at Marcus Rashford, William released a statement as president of the FA, denouncing the "racist abuse... whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media" as "despicable" and stating that "we all have a responsibility" to create an environment of tolerance and accountability.^[288] In April 2021, William criticised the planned breakaway competition The Super League, adding that he "share[d] the concerns of fans about the proposed Super League and the damage it risks causing to the game we love."^[289] In July 2021, he condemned racist attacks against England football players following their loss at the UEFA Euro 2020 finale.^[290]

In May 2007, William became patron of the English Schools' Swimming Association.^[291] In 2012, together with his wife Catherine and brother Harry, William launched Coach Core. The program was set up following the 2012 Olympics and provides apprenticeship opportunities for people who desire to pursue a career as a professional coach.^[292] In May 2020, he appeared in a BBC One Documentary titled Football, Prince William and Our Mental Health as a part of a campaign to promote men to discuss their mental issues using football as a common medium.^[293]

Both William and Harry are enthusiastic motorcyclists; William owns a Ducati 1198 S Corse.^[294] In May 2014, William, like his father and grandfather, became president of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC).^[295] He also took part in a bandy event in Stockholm in January 2018.^[296]

In November 2022, William was criticised by Welsh football followers and Welsh actor Michael Sheen for holding the Prince of Wales title whilst having affiliations with the England national football team, particularly after he presented jerseys to the squad in advance of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in which both Wales and England were placed in the same Group B.^[297] William commented that he had supported the England football team from a very young age, but happily supported Welsh rugby union, of which he is patron, over England.^[298] In August 2023, he was criticised in segments of the press and social media for not attending 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final in Australia as president of the FA.^[299][300]

William has been one of the most popular members of the British royal family since his birth.^{[301][302][303]} Having lived a public life since birth, he was regarded as a "heartthrob" and eligible as a young adult, similar to his father.^{[304][305][306]} Ruth La Ferla of The New York Times contrasted William's "refined" and "polite" appeal to Leonardo DiCaprio's "bad-boy" popularity.^[307] Following his marriage, William's public image assumed a more "staid" and fatherly demeanour, having "settled into a stable domestic order".^[308][309]

Anne McElvoy has described William's public personality as a "genial presence" with a "tougher side", alongside his mother's "inimitable style".^[310] Much of his royal duties focus on "big bet" projects, rather than "plaques and patronages". In a 2016 interview, William said his aim was to keep the royal family relevant over the next 20 years.^[311][308] William and Catherine's close partnership has been described by The Times as a "good double act" with both valuing normality, privacy, and control. ^[312]

In 2011 Time magazine listed him as one of the most influential people in the world alongside his then-newlywed wife Catherine.^[313] In August 2023, Gallup, Inc. named him as the most popular public figure in the US after conducting a survey that asked for people's views on 15 prominent individuals.^[314] He was found to be the most popular member of the royal family by YouGov in December 2022^[315] and September 2023,^[316] and as the second most popular in April 2024.^[317] In December 2024, The Daily Telegraph included William in its annual list of best-dressed celebrities.^[318] In 2025 he was listed alongside Catherine on the inaugural Time 100 Philanthropy list;^[319] that year the couple also topped Tatler's social power index.^[320]

The death of Diana, Princess of Wales while being chased by the paparazzi in 1997 has shaped William and Catherine's guarded stance towards the media.^[321][322] They have regularly asked for privacy when off-duty.^[322]

In 2005 William spoke with the ITV reporter Tom Bradby and concluded that it was likely that their voicemails were being accessed.^[323] An investigation under then Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke concluded that the compromised voice mail accounts belonged to William's aides, including Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton,^[324] and not the prince himself.^[325] However, Clive Goodman later stated that he had hacked William's phone on 35 occasions.^[326] Andy Coulson, the editor of News of the World from 2003 to 2007, apologised to William and his brother for invading their privacy, accepting "ultimate responsibility" for Goodman's actions.^[327] William later sued News Group Newspapers, publisher of News of the World and The Sun, which resulted in an out-of-court settlement in 2020.^[328] He and Harry brought a private claim through mutual solicitors, but Harry later pursued it separately with a new one.^[328][329]

At the time of Middleton's 25th birthday in January 2007, William issued a statement expressing that the level of media intrusion had become intolerable.^[330] In October that year, he condemned the "aggressive pursuit" by photographers as the couple left a London nightclub. The Press Complaints Commission warned editors against publishing images obtained through harassment; the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and Daily Express complied, while The Sun ran shots taken before their car departed.^[331] In April 2009, William's lawyers secured an apology from the Daily Star over a false claim he had "wrecked" a $2 million training aircraft.^[332]

In September 2012, the French edition of Closer and Italian magazine Chi published topless photos of Catherine sunbathing at Château d'Autet.^[333] William and Catherine filed a criminal complaint and civil suit in Nanterre.^[334] A court granted an injunction banning further publication and launched a criminal inquiry.^[335] In 2017 Closer was fined €100,000, and its editor and owner €45,000 each.^[336]

In October 2014, Catherine and William issued a legal warning to a freelance photographer for "harassing and following" their son George and his nanny.^[337] In August 2015, Kensington Palace released a letter describing the media's "dangerous" efforts to photograph George and Charlotte.^[338]

In November 2016, William issued a statement supporting Harry and his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, following their complaints about the press intrusion.^[339] During a visit to the BBC studios in central London in November 2018, William criticised social media companies for failing to address misinformation and their role in fuelling social problems.^[340]

In June 2022, a three-minute video of William confronting Terry Harris, a paparazzi photographer, was posted on Harris' YouTube channel.^[341] It was recorded in January 2021 and shows William arguing with Harris as the latter attempts to film William's family on a bike ride near Anmer Hall.^[342] Kensington Palace called the video a privacy breach and requested its removal from public sites.^[342]

In October 2025, Prince Harry named William and Catherine in his court case against Associated Newspapers, alleging that private investigators had been employed to collect information about them, including a payment for details of William’s 21st-birthday party in 2003.^[343]

William has been a British prince since birth, and was known as "Prince William of Wales" until April 2011. He was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus by Elizabeth II on the day of his wedding. The letters patent granting these titles were issued on 26 May that year.^[344][345]

As the eldest son of the monarch, William automatically became Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland on the accession of his father on 8 September 2022.^[346][347] From 8 to 9 September, William was styled as "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge".^[348] On 9 September, Charles announced the creation of William as Prince of Wales, the traditional title for the male heir apparent to the British monarch. William has since been known as "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales", except in Scotland, where he is called "His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay" instead.^[349][350] The letters patent formally granting him this title and that of Earl of Chester were issued on 13 February 2023.^[351]

William is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG),^[352] an Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT),^[353] Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB),^[354] a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom (PC),^[355][356] and a Personal Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the sovereign.^[357]

William's ancestry is royal and aristocratic. Patrilineally, he is a member of the House of Windsor and also descends from the House of Oldenburg, one of Europe's oldest royal houses. More specifically, he descends from the cadet branch known as the House of Glücksburg.^[358]

Through his mother, William descends from the Earls Spencer – a cadet branch of the Spencer family descended from the Earls of Sunderland (the senior branch are now also Dukes of Marlborough); the Barons Fermoy; and more anciently from Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, and Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond – two illegitimate sons of King Charles II. As king, William would be the first monarch since the death of Anne in 1714 to undisputedly descend from Charles I and the first to descend from Charles II.^[359]

William descends matrilineally from Eliza Kewark, a housekeeper for his 18th-century ancestor Theodore Forbes – a Scottish merchant who worked for the East India Company in Surat. She is variously described in contemporary documents as "a dark-skinned native woman", "an Armenian woman from Bombay", and "Mrs. Forbesian".^[359] Genealogist William Addams Reitwiesner assumed Kewark was Armenian.^[360] In June 2013, it was reported that genealogical DNA tests on two of William's distant matrilineal cousins confirm Kewark was matrilineally of Indian descent.^{[361][362][363][364]}

• William, Prince of Wales, in film and television
• List of covers of Time magazine (1990s), (2010s)