Prince William

PRINCE WILLIAM
The Prince of Wales's elder son, Prince William, is second in line to the throne.


Prince William was born at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982, at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in London. A bulletin announced that the Royal baby weighed 7lb 1 1/2oz.

On August 4, 1982, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace.

Prince William attended Mrs Mynor's Nursery School in west London from September 24, 1985, when he was three years old. Prince William acted in two nursery school plays, attended by his mother and father and younger brother Prince Harry, and also sang solo.

Prince William was next a pupil at Wetherby School, also in west London, from January 15, 1987, until July 5, 1990. It was noted that he had a flair for English and spelling. Sports Day was held annually at Richmond Athletic Ground and both The Prince and Princess of Wales took part in parents' races.

Prince William proved himself to be a stylish swimmer and entered the school gala held every March. At the age of seven, he won the Grunfield Cup awarded to the boy with the best overall swimming style. Prince William sang in the 1987, 1988 and 1989 Christmas concerts, and took part in the June 1990 school play.

In December 1990, Prince William accompanied the Princess of Wales to a Christmas concert by the London Symphony Chorus, at the Barbican in London, when he made his first public signature, signing the visitors' book, confirming that he is left-handed.

The Prince spent five years at Ludgrove School in Berkshire, from September 10, 1990 until July 5, 1995.
Prince William was eight years old on his first public appearance, at Llandaff Cathedral, when he joined The Prince and Princess of Wales on a visit to Wales on St David's Day, March 1, 1991.

The Prince's sporting prowess came to the fore at Ludgrove where he was rugby and hockey team captain, stylish swimmer, useful footballer and basketball player, crack clay pigeon shooter and represented the school at cross-country running.

On June 3, 1991, Prince William was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, after an accident at Ludgrove. Playing with a friend on the putting green, he was hit on the side of the head with a golf club. He suffered a depressed fracture of the forehead but was not knocked out.

Prince William was transferred by ambulance to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and that evening underwent an operation.

In June 1995, The Prince of Wales took part with Prince William in Ludgrove's father-and-son clay pigeon shooting competition. In July 1995, the Princess of Wales and Prince William - at the age of 13 - played in the mother-and-son tennis competition at Ludgrove School.

In May 1995, Prince William accompanied his mother, father and brother to the 50th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) commemorations in Hyde Park, and on August 19, 1995, went with them to The Mall for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the Second World War.

Prince William and Prince Harry walked behind their mother's cortege at her funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997.

Prince William went to Westminster Abbey again in November 1997 when he attended the service of thanksgiving to mark the Golden Wedding of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

In March 1998 Prince William and Prince Harry accompanied The Prince of Wales on a visit to Vancouver, Canada.

On January 2, 2000, Prince William and Prince Harry accompanied The Prince of Wales on a visit to Cardiff. They heard hymns and readings in Welsh and English and joined 60,000 people for a special edition of the BBC's Songs of Praise at the Millennium Stadium.

The Prince of Wales has asked the media to respect his son's privacy, to allow him to lead a normal school life.

Prince William attended Eton College, Windsor from 1995, and studied geography, biology and history of art at A Level, after sitting 12 GCSEs.

His favourite sports - mainly team sports - included water polo, football and rugby, and he enjoyed being with friends, going to the cinema, and watching football and rugby matches.

He has a black Labrador, called Widgeon, and shares the Royal Family's love of horses.

Prince William learned his A-level results in August 2000, whilst in the jungle in Belize during the first stage of his gap year. He was preparing for survival exercises with the Welsh Guards, of which The Prince of Wales is Colonel.

St James's Palace is pleased to announce Prince William's A-level results: History of Art - B; Geography - A; Biology - C, said The Palace statement.

Accordingly, Prince William has been accepted to attend the university of his first choice, the University of St Andrews, on a four year course to study an MA (Honours), Art History degree.

The Prince had left Eton College, Windsor, a month after his 18th birthday. His stay in Belize involved sleeping in a hammock strung between trees, wearing jungle combats, hats and boots, and eating British Army rations.

After the Belize visit, Prince William spent a private few weeks engaged in an educational project.

Prince William then spent the final stage of his gap year in southern Chile as a volunteer with Raleigh International. Pictures and reports

Prince William is second in line of succession to the throne, following his father The Prince of Wales, who is heir apparent.

The 21-year-old Prince does not yet carry out his own public engagements, but he has accompanied his father on several official visits.

In September 2001, Prince William began a four-year degree course at St Andrews University in Scotland. In May 2003, he gave an interview and some photographs were released to mark the mid-point of his studies.

In June 2003, another interview and more photographs of Prince William were released to celebrate his 21st birthday.

To mark the special occasion, photographer, Mario Testino also took some photographs of the young Prince, who celebrated his birthday with a party held at Windsor Castle.

At this time he also accompanied The Prince of Wales on an official visit to Wales, where he chose to carry out both rural and urban engagements. The Prince of Wales and Prince William visited the Anglesey Food Fair at the Anglesey Showground and then went on to Newport to open a new homeless charity day centre for Newport Action for Single Homeless (NASH).

Before Christmas 2003 Prince William took part in a photocall in St Andrews and another with his father at The Prince of Wales' Duchy Home Farm in May 2004.

Prince William has completed his third year at university and has switched courses from history of art to geography.

In June 2004, Prince Harry and his brother Prince William attended the funeral of their maternal grandmother, Mrs Frances Shand Kydd in Oban, Scotland.

During the private service, Prince William read a lesson from the Jerusalem Bible, Romans Chapter 8; Verses 35 - 39.

Later, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry joined members of the Spencer family at a private burial at a cemetery at the edge of the town.