William, Prince of Wales

Biography

William was born in 1982, the elder son of the then Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School and Eton College, and then at the University of St Andrews, where he took a master's degree in geography and met Catherine Middleton.

After university he trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served in the Blues and Royals, then qualified as a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force and joined its search and rescue force in 2009. From 2015 to 2017 he flew full time as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance before taking on royal duties full time. He married Catherine in April 2011, when he was created Duke of Cambridge; they have three children.

William carries out official engagements for the monarch and is patron of many charities. Through the Royal Foundation he works on mental health, conservation, homelessness and support for emergency workers, and in 2020 he launched the Earthshot Prize for environmental solutions. When his father became king in September 2022 he became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay, and was created Prince of Wales the following day.