HRH Prince William At 40

 His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge celebrates his 40th birthday on 21st June. Prince William was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington and is the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales. 

 William was born and is still 2nd in line to the British throne after his father Prince Charles. His birth was the cause for jubilation throughout Britain, the Commonwealth and indeed the world - with his father and mother's romance and marriage being followed by millions. 

The young prince was baptised in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace on 4th August, 1982- the Queen Mother's 82nd birthday.

 Home for the Wales family was apartments 8 & 9 Kensington Palace and Highgrove House near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. After the separation of the Prince and Princess in 1992, Charles used St James's Palace as a London residence and kept Highgrove for weekends. Diana remained at Kensington Palace until her death in 1997.

Young William was educated at Mrs Mynors Nursery, Wetherby Prep, Ludgrove boarding school in Berkshire, Eton in Windsor followed by St Andrew's University in Scotland. It was here at St Andrew's that William met fellow student Catherine Middleton and romance blossomed after around 12 months in 2002. The couple would end up sharing a flat, and later a house near the university. 

William went on to Sandhurst Military Academy before joining the RAF. He became a helicopter pilot and his last posting was to RAF Valley in Angelsey, Wales where he served as a search and rescue pilot. Just after Prince George was born, William finished in the RAF and took a year to learn broader skills related to his future role in the royal family and as a land manager for the various properties owned by Duchy of Cornwall. 

Catherine and William married in April 2011 and have three children- Prince George ( 2013), Princess Charlotte ( 2015) and Prince Louis ( 2018). The family have homes at Apartment 1A Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. It is strongly rumoured that the family will be moving to Adelaide Cottage next to Windsor Castle in the coming months, with the children to start at a new school nearby. Kensington Palace would remain an office and base for London duties. 

I remember the day Prince William was born and waiting for the next day's newspapers with photos of "baby Wales" as he was known until officially named. Many changes will come for the prince in the coming years when Her Majesty passes away and Prince Charles becomes king. William will then be invested as Prince of Wales and become Duke of Cornwall. 

Many happy returns to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day Prince William

 Kensington Palace today released a photo of Prince William with his children to mark Father's Day. Judging by the same clothing and landscape in the family's Christmas card, it appears the photograph was taken during the Cambridge family holiday to Jordan last October.

 

Extra Photos From The Jubilee Weekend

We were treated to so many wonderful events and celebrations over the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Below are some photos behind the scenes released by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge:

And here some photos of Prince Louis running to greet his parents and siblings after they returned by helicopter to Kensington Palace from Cardiff on Saturday.

And a few more shots of energetic Louis at the pageant on Sunday

Platinum Jubilee Weekend Day 4- Pageant

 

Sunday marked the last day of Platinum Jubilee celebrations. A pageant was held along The Mall to Buckingham Palace where the Cambridge family, Prince Charles and Camilla and other members of the royal family took in all the colour and excitement. 

At the end of the day, The Queen, Charles, Camilla and the Cambridges stood on the Palace balcony much to the delight of the crowds. 

It was a symbolic occasion where the baton was being passed to Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George as future monarchs. A grouping we may not see again.

Rare Glimpse Inside Cambridge Home !!

The Duchess of Cambridge has shared photos on Instagram showing a cake baking session with her children. 

 With Union Jack Jubilee bunting in the background, Catherine can be seen helping George, Charlotte and Louis bake cakes destined for Cardiff in Wales when the family visited on Saturday.

 

 

Platinum Jubliee Weekend Day 3, Part 2 - Party At The Palace

 

After a big day in Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte again joined their parents William and Catherine for a Platinum Jubilee event. Poor Louis who is still a little young for many of the events stayed home at Kensington Palace.

The Party At The Palace was headlined by such artists as Queen with Adam Lambert, Elton John, Diana Ross and many, many more. 

The Queen herself was not well enough to attend but took part in a video with Paddington Bear to open the concert. See separate blog post- very cute!! I wish I was Paddington Bear this weekend, enjoying the Jubilee weekend in London 😞

                             ( see separate blog post with You Tube video )

 

 The moment Charlotte and George See The Queen and Paddington!!

🥪 👜 Ma’amalade sandwich Your Majesty? Very Cute!!

Platinum Jubilee Weekend Day 3 Part 1 - Cardiff Castle, Wales

 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with their eldest children Prince George and Princess Charlotte visited Wales on Saturday.  The royals learnt about the technical preparations  ( lighting, sound etc) for a Platinum Jubilee concert at Cardiff Castle.

The children took part in their first walkabout and interestingly I remember decades ago when Prince William's own walkabout debut took place in Wales!

After the engagement, the family of four ( Louis stayed behind at Kensington Palace) flew back to London ahead of Saturday night's Party At The Palace, to be held outside Buckingham Palace. 

 

Prince William of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales 1991 for William's first engagement.