PRINCE WILLIAM HAND SIGNED AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPH ROYALTY ENGLAND VERY RARE 2007 for Sale

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PRINCE WILLIAM HAND SIGNED AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPH ROYALTY ENGLAND VERY RARE 2007 For Sale

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PRINCE WILLIAM HAND SIGNED AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPH ROYALTY ENGLAND VERY RARE 2007:
$20324.91

AN EXTREMELY RARE AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPH OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND THE REST OF HIS ROYAL ARMOURED CORP MEMBERS SIGNED IN BLACK INK OF THE
ROYAL ARMOURED CORPSCVR (T) TROOP LEADERS FORMATION RECCE COURCE15TH MAY - 29TH JUNE 2007
MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 11 3/4 X 16 5/8 INCHES AND IS HAND SIGNED BY ALL CORP MEMBERS.
2LT WALES RHG/D IS HRH PRINCE WILLIAM WHO IS NOW DUKE OF CAMBRIDGEI knew someone who worked closely with the royal family and the armory and this is how I obtained this item.
Last photo shows HRH Prince William with the artist and the artwork he created for HRH Prince WilliamPrince William, Duke of Cambridge, KG, KT, PC, ADC (William Arthur Philip Louis;[fn 1] born 21 June 1982) is a member of the British royal family. He is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. Since birth, he has been second in the line of succession to the British throne.
Born in St Mary\'s Hospital, London, William was educated at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School and Eton College and studied for a degree in Art History before moving to study Geography at the University of St Andrews. In April 2008, William graduated from Royal Air Force College Cranwell, joining RAF Search and Rescue Force in early 2009.[3][4]
In 2011, Prince William was made Duke of Cambridge and married Catherine Middleton. The couple have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.Contents1 Early life2 Education3 Military and air ambulance service3.1 Military training and secondments3.2 Royal Air Force service3.3 Air ambulance pilot4 Royal duties5 Patronages and interests5.1 Humanitarian and environmental patronages5.2 Sport6 Personal life6.1 Bachelorhood6.2 Marriage and children6.3 Privacy and the media6.4 Wealth and inheritance7 Titles, styles, honours, and arms7.1 Titles and styles7.2 Military ranks7.3 Honours7.3.1 Medals7.3.2 Commonwealth honours7.3.3 Appointments7.3.4 Honorary military appointments7.3.5 Eponyms7.4 Arms7.5 Personal flag for Canada8 Ancestry9 See also10 Notes11 References12 External links12.1 InterviewsEarly lifePrince William was born at St Mary\'s Hospital, London on 21 June 1982 as the first child of Charles, Prince of Wales—heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth II—and Diana, Princess of Wales.[5][6][7] His names, William Arthur Philip Louis, were announced by Buckingham Palace on 28 June.[5] He was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace on 4 August, the 82nd birthday of his paternal great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.[8][fn 2] He was the first child born to a prince and princess of Wales since Prince John in 1905.[10]
On 3 June 1991, William was admitted to 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.[11] In a 2009 interview, he dubbed this scar a \"Harry Potter scar\" and said, \"I call it that because it glows sometimes and some people notice it—other times they don\'t notice it at all\".[12]
William\'s mother wished him and his younger brother, Harry, to obtain broader life experiences than those usually available to royal children; she took them to Walt Disney World and McDonald\'s, AIDS clinics, shelters for the homeless, and bought them items typically owned by teenagers, such as video games.[13] Diana, who was by then divorced from Charles, 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, were staying at Balmoral Castle at the time. The Prince of Wales waited until his sons awoke the following morning to tell them about their mother\'s death.[14] William accompanied his father, brother, paternal grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and his maternal uncle Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, at his mother\'s funeral. William and Harry walked behind the funeral cortège from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.[15]
EducationWilliam was educated at independent schools, starting at Jane Mynors\' nursery school and the pre-preparatory Wetherby School, both in London.[16] Following this, he attended Ludgrove School near Wokingham, Berkshire, and was privately tutored during summers by Rory Stewart.[17] At Ludgrove, he participated in football, swimming, basketball, clay pigeon shooting, and cross country running. He sat the entrance exam to Eton College and was admitted. There, he studied Geography, Biology, and History of Art at A-Level, obtaining an \'A\' in Geography, a \'C\' in Biology, and a \'B\' in History of Art.[18][19][20] At Eton, he took up water polo and continued to play football, captaining his house team.[21]Prince William in Paisley in 2009The decision to place William in Eton went against the family tradition of sending royal children to Gordonstoun, which William\'s grandfather, father, two uncles, and two cousins all attended. Diana\'s father and brother both attended Eton.[13] The royal family and the tabloid press agreed William would be allowed to study free from intrusion in exchange for regular updates about his life. John Wakeham, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, said of the arrangement, \"Prince William is not an institution; nor a soap star; nor a football hero. He is a boy: in the next few years, perhaps the most important and sometimes painful part of his life, he will grow up and become a man.\"[13]
After completing his studies at Eton, William took a gap year, during which he took part in British Army training exercises in Belize,[22] worked on English dairy farms, visited Africa,[23] and for ten weeks taught children in southern Chile. As part of the Raleigh International programme in the town of Tortel, William lived with other young volunteers, sharing in the common household chores—including cleaning the toilet—and also volunteered as a guest disc jockey at a local radio station.[22] His interest in African culture prompted him to teach himself Swahili.[24]
By 2001, William was back in the United Kingdom and had enrolled at the University of St Andrews.[25][26] The extra attention did not deter him; he embarked on a degree course in Art History, later changing his main subject to Geography, and earned a Scottish Master of Arts degree with upper second class honours in 2005.[27][28] While at university, he represented the Scottish national universities water polo team at the Celtic Nations tournament in 2004.[21] He was known as \"Steve\" by other students to avoid any journalists overhearing and realising his identity.[29]
William returned to St Andrews in February 2011 as patron of the university\'s 600th Anniversary Appeal.[30]
To prepare for his eventual management of the Duchy of Cornwall, in 2014 William enrolled in a vocational agricultural management course at Cambridge, which was organised by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), of which his father is patron.[31][32][33] According to a CNN report in 2014, the duchy is \"a £760 million (about $1.25 billion) entity established in 1337 to provide a private income for use by the reigning monarch\'s eldest son\", which William will inherit when his father becomes king.[31]
Military and air ambulance service
William in 2010 wearing a Flight Lieutenant\'s uniformMilitary training and secondmentsHaving decided to follow a military career, William was admitted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2006.[34] William officially received his commission as a lieutenant at midnight. As \"Lieutenant Wales\"—a name based on his father\'s title Prince of Wales—he followed his younger brother[35] into the Blues and Royals as a troop commander in an armoured reconnaissance unit, after which he spent five months training for the post at Bovington Camp, Dorset.[36]
The Prince\'s position as second-in-line to the throne and the convention of ministers advising against placing that person into dangerous situations cast doubts on William\'s chances of seeing combat. These doubts increased after Prince Harry\'s deployment was cancelled in 2007 due to \"specific threats\". William, instead, went on to train in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, obtaining his commission as a sub-lieutenant in the former and flying officer in the latter—both broadly equivalent to the army rank of lieutenant. After completing his training, William undertook an attachment with the Royal Air Force at RAF Cranwell.[37][38] Upon completing the course he was presented with his RAF wings by his father,[39] who had received his own wings after training at Cranwell.[40] During this secondment, William flew to Afghanistan in a C-17 Globemaster that repatriated the body of Trooper Robert Pearson.[41]
William was then seconded to train with the Royal Navy.[42]
Royal Air Force service
Sea King helicopter being flown by William in 2010In 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. In January 2010, he graduated from the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury.[43] On 26 January 2010, 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.[44] This made him the first member of the British royal family since Henry VII to live in Wales.[45]
Sea King helicopter flown by Prince William on display at the RAF Museum in LondonWilliam\'s first rescue mission as co-pilot of an RAF Sea King was a response to an emergency call from Liverpool Coastguard on 2 October 2010.[46] 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.[47]
William was deployed to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour with No. 1564 Flight from February to March 2012.[48][49] The Argentine government condemned the Duke\'s deployment to the islands close to the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands War as a \"provocative act\".[50][51]
In June 2012 Prince William gained a qualification to be captain or pilot in command of a Sea King rather than a co-pilot.[52] His active service as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot ended in September 2013.[3][4]
Air ambulance pilotIn 2014, it was announced that William would accept a full-time role as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) based at Cambridge Airport. Despite his qualifications as a military helicopter pilot, William needed a civil pilot\'s licence and further training before being permitted to take command of the Air Ambulance. Although his position was paid, Kensington Palace announced that William would donate his full salary to the EAAA charity.[53] He underwent part of his training as an EAAA pilot at Norwich Airport.[54] On 13 July 2015, William started his new job, which he felt was a natural progression from his previous role as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot.[55] He left his position with EAAA in July 2017 to assume a more active role in royal duties on behalf of his grandmother the Queen.[56] After supporting an anniversary campaign for London\'s Air Ambulance Charity in 2019, the Duke became the charity\'s official patron in March 2020.[57]
Royal dutiesSee also: List of official overseas trips made by Prince William, Duke of CambridgeUpon graduation from university, William began to undertake his own public duties and privately obtained work experience by interning in land management at Chatsworth House and in banking at HSBC.[13]
At the age of 21, Prince William was appointed as a Counsellor of State; he first served in that capacity when the Queen was in Nigeria attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2003. For his 21st birthday, William accompanied his father on a tour of Wales, visiting the Anglesey Food Fair and opening a centre for the homeless in Newport.[58] By July 2005, he embarked on his first solo overseas tour, travelling to New Zealand, to participate in World War II commemorations on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of New Zealand. For the 30th anniversary of his father\'s charity The Prince\'s Trust, William and his brother were interviewed together for the first time by television personalities Ant & Dec.[58]
According to Tina Brown in her 2007 biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, William had, like his father, expressed a desire to become Governor-General of Australia.[59] Prime Minister of Australia John Howard said, \"We have for a long time embraced the idea that the person who occupies that post should be in every way an Australian citizen\".[60]
In 2009, the Queen set up a private office for William with Sir David Manning as his adviser.[61] Manning accompanied him in January 2010 as he toured Auckland and Wellington on behalf of the Queen; William opened the new building of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and was welcomed by a Māori chief.[62] William succeeded Lord Attenborough in 2010 as the fifth president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.[63]
In March 2011, William visited Christchurch, New Zealand, shortly after the earthquake,[64] and spoke at the memorial service at Hagley Park on behalf of his grandmother.[65] Upon leaving New Zealand, he travelled to Australia to visit areas affected by flooding in Queensland and Victoria.[66][67] After twice accompanying his parents to Canada, Prince William and his wife toured the country in June and July 2011; they visited the United States and attended Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.[68][69] On 2 November, the Duke and Duchess visited the UNICEF Supply Division Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark, which supplies food to malnourished African children.[70][71] In September 2012, they toured Singapore, Malaysia, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands as part of the Queen\'s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.[72]
In April 2014, the Duke and Duchess undertook a royal tour to New Zealand and Australia. From 20–21 September, William took his wife\'s place on a tour of Malta to mark the 50th anniversary of the island\'s independence from the United Kingdom.[73] On 21 October, the Duke and Duchess met the President of Singapore, Tony Tan, during his state visit to the UK.[74]
In December 2014, the Duke met US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, and subsequently made a speech at the World Bank in Washington, D. C., condemning the illegal trade in wildlife.[75]
In 2015, Prince William visited the Chinese cities Beijing, Shanghai, and Yunnan from 1 to 4 March. Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed him as he began the first visit to mainland China by a member of the British royal family in almost three decades.[76]
Patronages and interestsHumanitarian and environmental patronagesWilliam became aware of HIV/AIDS in the mid-1990s when he accompanied his mother and brother on visits to shelters and clinics for sufferers. In January 2005, William and his brother volunteered at a British Red Cross aid distribution centre to pack emergency supplies for countries affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.[77] In September that year, William granted his patronage to Centrepoint, a charity that assists the homeless.[78][79]
In 2005, William worked in the children\'s unit at The Royal Marsden Hospital for two days of work experience; he also assisted in the medical research, catering, and fundraising departments.[78] In May that year, he spent two weeks in North Wales with a mountain rescue team.[77] In May 2007, William became patron of both organisations—his mother had also been patron of the Royal Marsden Hospital—and he became attracted to Mountain Rescue England and Wales to \"highlight and celebrate the vital, selfless and courageous work of our mountain rescue organisations\".[78]
Prince William also became a patron of the Tusk Trust in December 2005,[78] a charity that works towards conserving wildlife and initiating community development, including providing education, across Africa.[80] He became associated with the organisation after he witnessed its work first hand in Africa. Saying \"rural African initiatives that foster education, responsibility and participation in the local community light the way to conservation\",[81] 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 2007. In 2010, he also became a patron of 100 Women in Hedge Funds Philanthropic Initiatives.[82]
In March 2011, the Duke and Duchess set up a gift fund held by The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry to allow well-wishers who wanted to give them a wedding gift to donate money to charities instead.[83] The gift fund supported 26 charities of the couple\'s choice, incorporating the armed forces, children, the elderly, art, sport and conservation. These causes are close to their hearts and reflected the experiences, passions and values of their lives so far.[84][85][86][87][88]
In December 2019, after consulting various organisations and experts, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the Earthshot Prize, which will be given to five individuals or organisations who could come up with solutions for environmental problems between 2021 and 2030. The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will run the project, which is also supported by philanthropists.[89]
SportWilliam plays polo to raise money for charity, is a fan of football, and supports the English club Aston Villa.[95] He became President of England\'s Football Association in May 2006 and vice-royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in February 2007, supporting the Queen as patron.[78] The same year, the WRU\'s decision to name a new cup for test matches between Wales and South Africa the Prince William Cup caused controversy; some believed it would have been more appropriate to name it after Ray Gravell.[96][97][98] In 2011, William as President of the English FA, voted against Australia\'s 2022 FIFA offer and instead voted for South Korea; despite being the country\'s future heir. In 2020, again as President of the English FA, he voted against the joint Australia–New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women\'s World Cup offer and instead voted for Columbia.[99]
In 2006, William, along with other Sandhurst officers, took part in a one-mile (1.6 km) run to support the charity Sport Relief, as he had done in 2004 with a team from Clarence House. In May 2007, William became patron of the English Schools\' Swimming Association.[78] In 2013, he succeeded his grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as president of the UK charity Fields in Trust.[100]
In December 2010, William and Prime Minister 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\'s ethics investigator because they considered vote-swapping to be a violation of anti-collusion rules.[101][102] In 2012, together with the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince 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.[103]
Both William and his brother are enthusiastic motorcyclists; William owns a Ducati 1198 S Corse.[104]
In May 2014, William, like his father and paternal grandfather, became president of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC).[105] He enthusiastically took part in a bandy event in Stockholm in January 2018.[106]
In May 2020, the Duke of Cambridge 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.[107]
Personal lifeBachelorhoodWilliam\'s private life became a subject of tabloid speculation, especially around his relationship with Catherine Middleton, one of William\'s university flatmates whom William began dating in 2003. Middleton attended William\'s passing-out parade at Sandhurst, which was the first high-profile event that she attended as his guest. Their relationship was followed so closely that bookmakers took bets on the possibility of marriage and the retail chain Woolworths produced memorabilia bearing the likenesses of the couple.[108] Media attention became so intense that William formally asked the press to keep their distance from Middleton.[108]
It was reported in April 2007 that the couple had split up,[108] but they resumed their relationship a few months later.[109]
Marriage and childrenMain article: Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the official Canada Day celebration in Ottawa, 2011, during their first tour outside the United Kingdom.On 16 November 2010, Clarence House announced that Prince William and Middleton were to marry; the couple had become engaged in Kenya in October.[110] The engagement ring given by William to Catherine had belonged to his mother.
The wedding took place on 29 April 2011 in Westminster Abbey, London.[111] A few hours before the ceremony, William\'s new titles Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus were announced.[112][113][114][115]
His wife\'s first pregnancy was announced on 3 December 2012.[116] She 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.[117][118] On 8 September 2014, it was announced that the Duchess of Cambridge was pregnant with her second child.[119] She was admitted on 2 May 2015 to the same hospital and gave birth to Princess Charlotte.[120] The Duchess\'s third pregnancy was announced on 4 September 2017;[121] Prince Louis was born on 23 April 2018.[122]
In March 2017, a video of William dancing with an unidentified woman at a nightclub in Verbier, Switzerland, surfaced in the media.[123] At the time, he was on a skiing holiday with his friends.[124] The press criticised William\'s behaviour because he had failed to attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was attended by other senior members of the royal family.[123]
Privacy and the mediaThe death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in Paris while being chased by paparazzi in 1997,[125] influenced the Duke\'s attitude towards the media.[126] The Duke and his wife have asked that, when off-duty, their privacy should be respected.[126]
In September 2012, the French edition of Closer and Italian gossip magazine Chi published photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge sun-bathing topless while on holiday at the Château d\'Autet[126] (a private château on a 260-ha estate 71 km[127] north of Aix-en-Provence). Analysts from The Times believed the photographs were taken from the D22 (Vaucluse) road half a kilometre from the pool—a distance that would require an 800-mm or a 1000-mm lens.[128] On 17 September 2012, the Duke and Duchess filed a criminal complaint with the French prosecution department and launched a claim for civil damages at the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Nanterre.[129] The following day the courts granted an injunction against Closer prohibiting further publication of the photographs and announced a criminal investigation would be initiated.[130] Under French law, punitive damages cannot be awarded[131] but intrusions of privacy are a criminal offence carrying a maximum jail sentence of one year and a fine of up to €45,000 for individuals and €225,000 for companies.[132][133] In September 2017, Closer was fined €100,000 and its editor Laurence Pieau and owner Ernesto Mauri were each fined €45,000.[134]
In August 2015, Kensington Palace published a letter detailing what it stated were the \"dangerous\" and invasive efforts of the media to get paparazzi pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Jason Knauf, communications secretary to the Cambridges, wrote the letter to media standards organisations in various countries.[135]
Wealth and inheritanceWilliam and his brother Harry inherited the \"bulk\" of the £12.9 million left by their mother on their respective 30th birthdays, a figure that had grown since her 1997 death to £10 million each in 2014.[136][137] In 2002 The Times reported that William would also share with his brother a payment of £4.9 million from trust funds established by their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, on their respective 21st birthdays and would share a payment of £8 million upon their respective 40th birthdays. As the eldest son of the heir-apparent, William is expected to inherit the Duchy of Cornwall, which would bring him an additional income.[138]
In 2014 William and Harry inherited their mother\'s wedding dress along with many other of her personal possessions including dresses, diamond tiaras, jewels, letters, and paintings. The brothers also received the original lyrics and score of \"Candle in the Wind\" by Bernie Taupin and Elton John as performed by John at Diana\'s funeral.[137]
Titles, styles, honours, and armsTitles and styles1982–2011: His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales2011–present: His Royal Highness The Duke of CambridgeIn Scotland: His Royal Highness The Earl of Strathearn[139][140][141]In Northern Ireland: Baron Carrickfergus[142][143]The hereditary titles of Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus were announced on 29 April 2011 and formally patented on 26 May that year.[112][fn 3] William is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG),[145] a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT),[139] a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom (PC), and a Personal Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Queen.[146]
As a British prince, William does not use a surname for everyday purposes. For formal and ceremonial purposes, children of the Prince of Wales use the title \"prince\" or \"princess\" before their forename and follow it with their father\'s territorial designation. Thus, before his marriage, Prince William was styled \"Prince William of Wales\". Such territorial designations are discarded by women when they marry and by men if they are given a peerage of their own,[147] such as when Prince William was given his dukedom.
Although the name of the Royal House is Windsor, the surname Mountbatten-Windsor belongs to all the children and male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and is used, if needed, by those who do not have the style of Royal Highness and the title Prince or Princess;[148] when a female descendant marries, she traditionally takes her husband\'s surname from that point onward, and their children take their father\'s.
Both Princes William and Harry used Wales as their surname for military purposes; this continues to be the case for William since his creation as Duke of Cambridge.[149]
Military ranksUnited KingdomUnited Kingdom8 January 2006: Officer cadet[150]16 December 2006: Cornet (Second Lieutenant), The Blues and Royals (short service commission)[151]16 December 2006: Lieutenant, The Blues and Royals[151]1 January 2009: Captain, The Blues and Royals (and transferred to a full regular commission)[152]1 January 2016: Major, British Army[153]United Kingdom1 January 2008: Sub-lieutenant, Royal Navy[154]1 January 2009: Lieutenant, Royal Navy[155]1 January 2016: Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy[156]United Kingdom1 January 2008: Flying Officer, Royal Air Force[157]1 January 2009: Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force[158]1 January 2016: Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force[159][160]HonoursSee also: List of honours of the British Royal Family by country
Accompanied by his father, Prince William proceeds to St George\'s Chapel, Windsor to be installed as a Knight of the Garter.Prince William is the 1,000th member of the register of the Order of the Garter,[161] and was officially invested by the Queen on 16 June 2008 at a service at St George\'s Chapel, Windsor Castle.[162] The last time a monarch appointed a grandchild into the Order of the Garter was in 1894, when Queen Victoria invested Alfred, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
23 April 2008: Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG)[163]25 May 2012: Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT)[164][165][166]Medals6 February 2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal6 February 2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee MedalCommonwealth honoursTuvalu 1 October 2016: Tuvalu Order of Merit[167]AppointmentsSince 6 July 2009: Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.[168]Since 23 June 2010: Royal Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)[169]17 March 2013: Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty The Queen (ADC)[146]9 June 2016: Member of Her Majesty\'s Most Honourable Privy Council (PC)[170]Since 1 March 2017: Royal Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (HonFRSE)[171]Since 17 January 2018: Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM)[172]25 January 2020: Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland[173]Honorary military appointmentsCanada CanadaCanada 10 November 2009: Canadian Ranger[174]United Kingdom United KingdomUnited Kingdom Since 8 August 2006: Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Submarine ServiceUnited Kingdom Since 8 August 2006: Commodore-in-Chief of Scotland[175]United Kingdom Since 3 October 2008: Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Coningsby[176]United Kingdom Since 10 February 2011: Colonel of the Irish Guards[177][178]EponymsTheir Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Award, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario[179][180]Duke and Duchess of Cambridge\'s Parks Canada Youth Ambassadors Program[181]Duke of Cambridge Public School, Bowmanville, Ontario[182]ArmsCoat of arms of the Duke of CambridgeCoat of Arms of William, Duke of Cambridge.svg NotesPrince William was granted a personal coat of arms on his 18th birthday. It is based on the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, with a white (or silver) label with three points, the centre point bearing a red clam shell (an \"escallop\"), to distinguish it from the arms of other members of the Royal Family. The escallop is drawn from the Spencer coat of arms, a reference to his mother, who was the daughter of the Earl Spencer.[183]Adopted21 June 2000HelmUpon a coronet of the children of the Heir Apparent, the royal helm OrEscutcheonQuarterly: 1st and 4th, Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale Or (England); 2nd, Or, a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counterflory Gules (Scotland); 3rd, Azure, a harp Or stringed Argent (Ireland).SupportersDexter a lion rampant guardant Or imperially crowned proper, sinister a unicorn Argent, armed, crined and unguled Or, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lis a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or.OrdersThe Order of the Garter ribbon.HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE(Shame be to him who thinks evil of it)Other elementsThe whole distinguished by a label of three points Argent, the central point charged with an escallop Gules.BannerRoyal Standard of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.svg The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom labelled for difference as in his arms.Royal Standard of Prince William, Earl of Strathearn.svg (Alternative in Scotland)SymbolismAs the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, Prince William\'s coat of arms has a label of three points.[184] The escallop (seashell) alludes to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, whose Spencer coat of arms includes three escallops Argent.In September 2013, the Queen granted to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a conjugal coat of arms consisting of their individual arms displayed side-by-side beneath a helm and coronet denoting the Duke\'s status as grandson of the Sovereign.[185]
Personal flag for CanadaMain article: Royal standards of Canada
Flag of the Duke of Cambridge for personal use in CanadaIn 2011, the Canadian Heraldic Authority introduced a personal heraldic flag for the Duke of Cambridge\'s use in Canada. It is the Royal Arms of Canada in banner form defaced with a blue roundel surrounded with a wreath of gold maple leaves and shells within which is a depiction of a \"W\" surmounted by a coronet. Above the roundel is a white label of three points, charged with a red shell.[186][187][188]
AncestryPrince William is a member of the House of Windsor. Patrilineally, he descends from the House of Oldenburg, one of Europe\'s oldest royal houses; and more specifically the cadet branch known as the House of Glücksburg.[189]
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 Anne to descend from Charles I and the first to descend from Charles II.[190][191]
William descends matrilineally from Eliza Kewark, a housekeeper for his eighteenth-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\".[191] Genealogist William Addams Reitwiesner assumed Kewark was Armenian.[192] In June 2013, BritainsDNA announced that genealogical DNA tests on two of William\'s distant matrilineal cousins confirm Kewark was matrilineally of Indian descent.[190][193][194][195]
About The Duke of CambridgeThe Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) is the second in line to the throne and the elder son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. His Royal Highness is married to The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, with whom he has three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family\'s official residence is Kensington Palace. His Royal Highness undertakes a number of charitable activities and projects and carries out public and official duties in support of The Queen, in the UK and overseas.
ConservationConservation work and supporting communities to protect their natural environment for future generations has been one of The Duke\'s key priorities for a number of years. His Royal Highness has publicly supported initiatives to fund conservation, community development and environmental education programmes across Africa as Royal Patron of the Tusk Trust, in a offer to highlight the inspiring conservation work that is being undertaken to a global audience.
Through the Royal Foundation, The Duke has founded \'United for Wildlife\' an unprecedented collaboration between seven of the world’s most influential conservation organisations committed to tackling the global challenges that threaten the world’s natural resources.
Let us not tell our children the sad tale of how we watched as the last elephants, rhinos and tigers died out, but the inspiring story of how we turned the tide and preserved them for all humanity.
The Duke of Cambridge
An area of particular interest to The Duke is the illegal wildlife trade, which has seen United for Wildlife bring together an international task force, chaired by William Hague, to deal head-on with the trafficking of illegal wildlife products, by collaborating with key contacts in the international transport industry. In March 2016, The Duke unveiled an ambitious, transport industry-led Declaration developed by the transport sector to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking routes, signed by global transport leaders at Buckingham Palace.Young peopleThe Duke of Cambridge is committed to helping children and young people to build their skills, confidence and aspirations. Through his charitable work, His Royal Highness has strived to raise awareness of how serious issues can affect young people, for example homelessness and bullying. In 2016, The Duke convened a new industry-led taskforce to develop a shared response to the online bullying of young people.The Duke also champions the benefits of equipping young people with essential skills and training to enhance both their personal and professional lives, in particular by highlighting youth-engaging programmes, such as those run by Coach Core and Skillforce, that work with the hard-to-reach and make a difference to young people and their surrounding communities.
The Armed ForcesHaving completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time military service, promoting the important role and the welfare of those who are serving or who have served their country in the Armed Forces is a key focus for The Duke\'s charitable activities. Through their programme of official engagements, both The Duke and Prince Harry have shone a light on the ongoing challenges facing service personnel making the transition to civilian life.As Patron of the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Coningsby, His Royal Highness has also drawn attention to the crucial role played by UK air defence, alongside recognising and commemorating its important history.
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge & The Duke and Duchess of SussexThe Duke of Cambridge, like his wife The Duchess of Cambridge and his brother, Prince Harry, also directs his charitable activities through The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Foundation develops programmes and charitable projects based on the interests of Their Royal Highnesses by working with organisations which are already making a proven impact in their respective fields. The Royal Foundation provides additional investment, mentoring, support and partnerships for these programmes, and lends its own profile and leverage to enhance the effect of their good work.
Heads TogetherIn 2017 The Duke spearheaded the Heads Together mental health campaign with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, leading a coalition of eight mental health charity partners to change the national conversation on mental health. The campaign aimed to build on existing progress nationwide in tackling stigma, raising awareness, and providing vital help for people with mental health problems.
The coalition of charities covered a wide range of mental health issues and worked in areas that were in line with The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry\'s interests. They were: the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families; Best Beginnings; CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably; Contact (a military mental health coalition); Mind; Place2Be; The Mix; and Young Minds.
Heads Together was privileged to be the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year giving the campaign a positive platform to raise funds for the charity partners and to start millions of conversations about mental wellbeing.
The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) provides the armour capability of the British Army, with vehicles such as the Challenger 2 Tank and the Scimitar Reconnaissance Vehicle. It was created as a loose association of armoured regiments, both the Royal Tank Regiment and those converted from old horse cavalry regiments.[1] Today it comprises fourteen regiments – ten regular and four Yeomanry.Contents1 History2 Present day2.1 Regiments2.2 Basing2.2.1 Band3 Reorganisation3.1 Delivering Security in a Changing World (2004)3.1.1 Deployments3.1.2 UK based regiments3.1.3 Germany based regiments3.2 Strategic Defence and Security Review (2010)/Army 20203.3 Strategic Defence and Security Review (2015)/Army 2020 Refine4 Order of precedence5 Related units6 Colonels Commandant (Cavalry)7 See also8 Notes9 References10 External linksHistoryFlag of the British Army.svgArms of the British ArmyCombat ArmsRoyal Armoured Corps and Household CavalryInfantryGuards DivisionScottish, Welsh and Irish DivisionKing\'s DivisionQueen\'s DivisionParachute RegimentRoyal Gurkha RiflesThe RiflesSpecial Air ServiceArmy Air CorpsSpecial Reconnaissance RegimentCombat Support ArmsRoyal ArtilleryRoyal EngineersRoyal Corps of SignalsIntelligence CorpsCombat ServicesRoyal Army Chaplains\' DepartmentRoyal Logistic CorpsArmy Medical ServicesRoyal Army Medical CorpsRoyal Army Dental CorpsRoyal Army Veterinary CorpsQueen Alexandra\'s Royal Army Nursing CorpsRoyal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersAdjutant General\'s CorpsEducational and Training Services BranchArmy Legal Services BranchProvost Branch (Royal Military PoliceMilitary Provost StaffMilitary Provost Guard Service)Small Arms School CorpsRoyal Army Physical Training CorpsGeneral Service CorpsCorps of Army MusicvteSee also: List of Royal Armoured Corps Regiments in World War IIThe RAC was created on 4 April 1939, just before World War II started, by combining regiments from the cavalry of the line which had mechanised with the Royal Tank Corps (renamed Royal Tank Regiment).[2] As the war went on and other regular cavalry and Territorial Army Yeomanry units became mechanised, the corps was enlarged.[3] A significant number of infantry battalions also converted to the armoured role as RAC regiments.[4] In addition, the RAC created its own training and support regiments. Finally, in 1944, the RAC absorbed the regiments of the Reconnaissance Corps.[1]
Present day
Recruiting areas of the regular army regimentsRegimentsThe Royal Armoured Corps is divided into regiments which operate main battle tanks (Armour), those in reconnaissance vehicles (Armoured Cavalry), and those in Weapons Mount vehicles (Light Cavalry). Of these, three regiments are designated Dragoon Guards, two as Hussars, one as Lancers and one as Dragoons. The remaining regiment is the Royal Tank Regiment. In the regular army, there are three armoured regiments, three armoured cavalry regiments and three light cavalry regiments. In the army reserve, there is one armoured regiment and three light cavalry regiments.[5]
Being a corps, the RAC is made up of several independent regiments, but the corps does control few separate units which include:
Training and Staff[6]AFV Training GroupRegimental Headquarters, Royal Armoured CorpsThe Armour Centre, Bovington CampBand of the Royal Armoured Corps (part of Corps of Army Music)Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment, Allenby Barracks, Bovington CampWaterloo Squadron (Made up of 11 troops, named after former British Army Tanks)Regular ArmyHousehold Cavalry RegimentHousehold Cavalry Mounted Regiment1st The Queen\'s Dragoon Guards (QDG) - Light CavalryThe Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) - Light CavalryThe Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG) - Armoured CavalryThe Queen\'s Royal Hussars (The Queen\'s Own and Royal Irish) (QRH) - ArmourThe Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeths\' Own) (RL) - Armoured CavalryThe King\'s Royal Hussars (KRH) - ArmourThe Light Dragoons (LD) - Light CavalryRoyal Tank Regiment2 (RTR) - Armour1: For operational purposes, the Household Cavalry Regiment is considered to be part of the RAC and constitutes the third armoured reconnaissance regiment.2: The Royal Tank Regiment retains a CBRN reconnaissance and survey squadron as part of its establishment[7]
Army Reserve - YeomanryThe Royal Yeomanry (RY) - Light CavalryThe Royal Wessex Yeomanry (RWxY) - ArmourScottish and North Irish Yeomanry (SNIY) - Light CavalryThe Queen\'s Own Yeomanry (QOY) - Light CavalryA system of pairing exists in the British Army of Regular to Reserve unit. Through this, operational and training cycles are aligned, resources shared and strategic depth enabled. In the Royal Armoured Corps this manifests with each yeomanry unit being paired with a regular unit of the same role.
Regular Army Army Reserve1st The Queen\'s Dragoon Guards Royal YeomanryRoyal Scots Dragoon Guards Scottish & North Irish YeomanryThe Light Dragoons Queen\'s Own YeomanryKing\'s Royal Hussars Royal Wessex Yeomanry1Queen\'s Royal HussarsRoyal Tank Regiment1: The Royal Wessex Yeomanry provides replacement soldiers for armoured regiments, and therefore is paired with all three regular army units operating main battle tanks.
BasingTidworth - Kings Royal Hussars; Royal Tank Regiment, The Queen\'s Royal Hussars (The Queen\'s Own and Royal Irish)Catterick - The Royal Dragoon Guards; The Royal Lancers; The Light DragoonsBulford - Household Cavalry RegimentSwanton Morley - 1st The Queen\'s Dragoon GuardsLeuchars - The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)London & Midlands - Royal YeomanrySouth of England - Royal Wessex YeomanryNorth of England - Queen\'s Own YeomanryScotland & Northern Ireland - Scottish and North Irish YeomanryBandThe Band of the Royal Armoured Corps is the single band representing the RAC, which falls under the administration of the Corps of Army Music. This was formed in 2014 by the amalgamation of the Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band, and the Light Cavalry Band. The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps is stationed at Catterick.
The Royal Yeomanry also operates an Army Reserve Band, which, alongside the bands of the Household Division, and The Honourable Artillery Regimental Band, form the state bands.
ReorganisationDelivering Security in a Changing World (2004)The reorganisation of the Army announced in 2004 led to significant changes to the Royal Armoured Corps. Reorganisation that began in 2003 would see three armoured regiments removed from Germany to the UK, with one re-roled as an FR regiment. In addition, three Challenger 2 squadrons will be converted to Interim Medium Armour Squadrons, while each FR regiment will gain a Command and Support Squadron.[8]
DeploymentsAs part of the reorganisation, postings will be realigned:
UK based regimentsCatterick: Armoured Regiment (RDG) (1 Armoured Infantry Brigade), Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (QRL) (1 Armoured Infantry Brigade)Tidworth: 2 x Armoured Regiment (2RTR, KRH), (1st Mechanized Brigade, 12th Mechanized Brigade,)Windsor: Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (HCR) (1 Armoured Infantry Brigade)Swanton Morley: Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (LD) (Theatre Troops)Warminster: Training/Demonstration squadron (A Squadron, RTR)Honington: Armoured Regiment (1RTR)Bovington: HQ RACGermany based regimentsBad Fallingbostel: Armoured Regiment (SCOTS DG) (7 Armoured Brigade)Sennelager: Armoured Regiment (QRH), Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (QDG) (20 Armoured Brigade)Hohne: Formation Reconnaissance Regiment (9/12L) (7 Armoured Brigade)Strategic Defence and Security Review (2010)/Army 2020In 2012, following the Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010, specific proposals about the make up of the future British Army were announced under the title Army 2020. These proposals were intended to reduce the size of the army to around 82,000. The Royal Armoured Corps was to be reduced by a total of two regiments, with the 9th/12th Royal Lancers amalgamated with the Queen\'s Royal Lancers to form a single lancer regiment, the Royal Lancers, and the 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments joined to form a single Royal Tank Regiment.
The Royal Armoured Corps will also see a shift with one third of its regiments operating as armoured regiments with main battle tanks, another third as formation reconnaissance regiments and a final third as light cavalry using Jackal vehicles.[9] Armoured regiments would consist of Type 56 regiments, each with three Sabre Squadrons (comprising 18 Challenger 2 Tanks each) and a command and recce squadron. Armoured Cavalry or formation reconnaissance regiments would also have a command and recce squadron and three Sabre Squadrons; which will initially be equipped with Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), and then with Future Rapid Effect System Scout vehicles.[10][11] Jackal regiments will be part of the Adaptable Force, comprising three Sabre Squadrons (each with 16 vehicles). These regiments will be paired with a Yeomanry regiment.[11][12]
The new structure of the Reaction Force will see three armoured regiments, each assigned to a new \"Armoured Infantry Brigade\", alongside a formation reconnaissance regiment (renamed as \"armoured cavalry\"), two armoured infantry battalions and a heavy protected mobility battalion. These six regiments will fall operationally under what will become known as the \"reaction forces\", which will be the army\'s high readiness force. The remaining three regiments will be located with the remainder of the regular army under what has been term the \"adaptable forces\", which will provide a pool of resources to back up operations conducted by the \"reaction forces\".
This new basing plan on 5 March 2013 gave an overview of where the regiments will be based.[13] All RAC regiments will be UK based, with the 1st The Queen\'s Dragoon Guards moving to Swanton Morley, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards moving to the Leuchars area, the Queen\'s Royal Hussars to Tidworth, the Royal Lancers settling in Catterick, the Light Dragoons in Catterick, and the Royal Tank Regiment to Tidworth. The expected Army 2020 layout for the RAC is to be:[14]
Armoured Regiment(Challenger 2) Armoured Cavalry(Scimitar) Light Cavalry(Jackal) Light Cavalry(Land Rover WMIK)[15]1st Armoured Infantry Brigade 7th Infantry BrigadeThe Royal Tank Regiment Household Cavalry Regiment 1st The Queen\'s Dragoon Guards The Royal Yeomanry12th Armoured Infantry Brigade 4th Infantry BrigadeThe King\'s Royal Hussars The Royal Lancers(Queen Elizabeth\'s Own) The Light Dragoons The Queen\'s Own Yeomanry20th Armoured Infantry Brigade 51st Infantry BrigadeThe Queen\'s Royal Hussars(Queen\'s Own and Royal Irish) The Royal Dragoon Guards The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards(Carabiniers and Greys) The Scottish and North Irish YeomanryThe Royal Wessex Yeomanry(MBT crew replacement) Strategic Defence and Security Review (2015)/Army 2020 RefineUnder a further review called \"Army 2020 Refine\", there will be a further change to the Royal Armoured Corps. The King\'s Royal Hussars will exchange its Challenger 2 tanks for Ajax (Scout SV) vehicles and with the Household Cavalry, form the first \"Strike Brigade\".[16][17
Prince William will join The Household Cavalry, with the aim of becoming an armoured reconnaissance troop leader, if he successfully completes his Officer Cadet Training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
He will join his brother, Prince Harry, in The Blues and Royals, one of the two regiments that form The Household Cavalry.
Like all Officer Cadets at Sandhurst, Prince William considered a number of regiments before applying to join The Household Cavalry. He based his decision on the variety of roles which the regiment undertakes, from reconnaissance support to airborne forces, right through to ceremonial duties. The Prince was also attracted by the Regiment’s outstanding record in recent decades, most notably during the Falklands Conflict, the 1991 Gulf War, Bosnia and Kosovo, in Iraq and in Northern Ireland.
Prince William’s time in the Army will be divided into two parts. He will spend the first year or so continuing his training to become a fully qualified armoured reconnaissance troop leader and experiencing life as a young officer at regimental duty. This will include commanding a troop of twelve Household Cavalrymen both in barracks and in the field.
Following on from this period of regimental service, Prince William will broaden his focus to encompass familiarisation attachments to the other two Armed Services.
He will also spend time in this second period attaining his own personal military goals, which will emerge as his experience of the Army grows and his specific areas of interest develop.
At this time, interspersed with his military activities, he will be undertaking public engagements, which will become more frequent as he approaches the end of his service.
Prince William will also aim to address the wider issues of preparing himself for his future roles: learning more about constitutional matters, charitable work and the organisation and estate management.
Finally, Prince William will be further developing his ideas for his medium-term role following Army service, both in supporting The Queen and The Prince of Wales and in furthering his own charitable interests.
Born William Arthur Philip Louis Windsor on June 21, 1982, he is the eldest son of Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
From an early age, Prince William was already breaking with tradition. His mother gave birth in St Mary\'s Hospital, London making him the first direct heir to the throne to be born outside palace walls. Unlike his father and paternal grandmother, who had private tutors, he also attended nursery school.
In 1995, after spells at Wetherby and Ludgrove Prep Schools, he started at Eton College, one of Britain\'s most prestigious secondary schools. There he excelled at sports – particularly swimming – and settled down to become a serious student.
His parents divorced in 1996, and the following year he was hit with the devastating news of his mother\'s death in a car crash in Paris. With immense courage he insisted on walking behind Princess Diana\'s hearse in the funeral procession.
A year later, Prince William issued a joint statement with his younger brother, Prince Harry, asking both press and public to let the two of them get on with their lives in peace.
It was a tactic which proved largely successful, and the Prince voiced his appreciation at the tenth anniversary of the Press Complaints Commission in February 2001, his first official engagement.
After graduating from Eton with 12 GCSEs and three A-levels,Prince William decided to study art history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland enrolling simply as \"William Wales\".
Before embarking on his studies in 2001, William took a gap year travelling to Chile, Kenya and New Zealand to carry out community and conservation work. Meanwhile, student applications skyrocketed at St Andrews.
In an interview before the start of his course, William insisted he planned to continue as normal a life as possible. \"I just want to go to university and have fun I want to be an ordinary student,\" he said, adding: \"I\'m only going to university. It\'s not like I\'m getting married.\"
Eighteen months into his studies, the Prince admitted his adjustment at St Andrews had been quite a rocky. \"It\'s new surroundings, new scenery and I wasn\'t quite sure what to expect,\" he said in the run-up to his 21st birthday.
Feeling \"a little uneasy\", and unsure about whether to continue or drop out, he went home during the holidays to get some solid advice from dad. \"My father was very understanding about it and realised I had the same problems he probably had... In the end I definitely realised that I had to come back.\"
He was also helped greatly by pretty fellow student Kate Middleton, who was one of his housemates.
Friendship blossomed into romance and the Berkshire lass proved a hit with his father and brother, when she joined them on family holidays.
Whilst William remained reticent about marriage, royal observers noted that Kate\'s ever-increasing presence in the young Prince\'s life might soon lead to wedding bells.
In 2007, just when it was thought an engagement was imminent, the duo went their separate ways. Royal watchers realised the break up was temporary when the pair were spotted kissing passionately and dancing closely at a party held in William\'s Army barracks.
The split had no doubt been prompted by the future King\'s desire to focus on his military career. He\'d graduated from Sandhurst military academy the previous year, before going on to RAF Cranwell, where he earned his pilot\'s wings, leading to a post with the search and rescue service.
Engagement speculation once again reached fever pitch in 2010, following a visit by Kate\'s parents to Birkhall – Prince Charles’s private residence on the Balmoral estate.
Clarence House confirmed that William had indeed presented his sweetheart with Princess Diana\'s iconic sapphire ring and the couple were to wed the following year.
On April 29, 2011, they exchanged vows in a magnificent ceremony and became known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The unity and rapport between the couple meant the royal family was riding high on a wave of popularity. Wherever they went large crowds turned out, resulting in unprecedented coverage of their tour of North America, the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games.
Eighteen months after their wedding the Duke and Duchess announced they were expecting their first baby. On 22 July, 2013 at 4.24 pm Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge was born.
Named after the Queen\'s father and grandfather, the little Prince is expected to reign as George VII some time towards the end of the 21st century. In September 2014, the royal couple shared more joyous news – the Duchess was expecting their second child.