William, Prince of Wales
The future king who has redefined royal duty by championing mental health awareness and environmental causes with a distinctly modern touch.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Heir apparent to the British throne·Birthday: June 21·Millennials
Biography
Born into a spotlight he never chose, William Arthur Philip Louis has spent a lifetime navigating the unique pressures of being a Windsor heir. His childhood was marked by the intense media scrutiny of his parents' marriage and the profound, public grief following his mother Diana's death, events that would deeply shape his perspective. After a traditional education at Eton and St Andrews University—where he met his future wife, Catherine—he pursued military service as a search and rescue pilot. As the Prince of Wales, he has deliberately carved a path that blends constitutional responsibility with passionate advocacy, focusing on issues like homelessness, conservation through his Earthshot Prize, and breaking the stigma around mental health, aiming to steer the monarchy towards continued relevance in the 21st century.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
William, was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When William, Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
William,'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded The Royal Foundation, a charitable organization that has raised millions for causes ranging from veterans' support to early childhood development.
- Served as a full-time pilot with the Royal Air Force, conducting 156 search and rescue operations over Anglesey, Wales.
- Launched the Earthshot Prize, a global environmental award offering £1 million grants to innovators tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.
- Became the first senior royal to openly discuss seeking mental health counseling, significantly advancing public conversation on the topic.
Did You Know?
He is the first British monarch-in-waiting to earn a university degree.
He proposed to Kate Middleton with his mother Diana's iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
He once worked incognito on a farm in Chile as part of a Raleigh International program.
He is a certified diver and a passionate supporter of Aston Villa Football Club.
““I want to make a difference. I’m proactive. If I see something, I like to go to the root cause of it and try to help.””
