40 photos of Prince William through the years as he celebrates his 40th birthday
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Prince William’s position as the eventual heir to throne was, of course, sealed at his birth on June 21, 1982, the first son of Charles and the late Princess Diana. That put him in the public eye from the second that Charles and Diana presented him to the TV cameras outside the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London.
The world has watched William from his school days in London to his courtship of Kate Middleton at St. Andrews University in Scotland and their spectacular marriage at Westminster Abbey.
Prince William turns 40 today. Here’s a look at his life through the years, in 40 photos:
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AP Photo/John Redman, File
In this June 22, 1982, file photo, Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and wife Princess Diana take home their newborn son Prince William, as they leave St. Mary's Hospital in London.
AP Photo/John Redman, FileIn this June 22, 1982, file photo, Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and wife Princess Diana take home their newborn son Prince William, as they leave St. Mary's Hospital in London.
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AP Photo/David Caulkin, File
Britain's Prince William, the 6-month old son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, with his mother during a photo call at Kensington Palace in London, England on Dec. 22, 1982.
AP Photo/David Caulkin, FileBritain's Prince William, the 6-month old son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, with his mother during a photo call at Kensington Palace in London, England on Dec. 22, 1982.
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AP Photo, File
Prince William holding the hands of his mother, Diana the Princess of Wales, on his arrival for the first day at his new school, Wetherby School, a pre-prep for boys, in Penbridge Square, London on Jan. 15, 1987.
AP Photo, FilePrince William holding the hands of his mother, Diana the Princess of Wales, on his arrival for the first day at his new school, Wetherby School, a pre-prep for boys, in Penbridge Square, London on Jan. 15, 1987.
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AP Photo, File
Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana and their sons, Princes William, right, and Harry begin a cycle ride, June 1, 1989, around the island of Tresco, one of the Scilly Isles.
AP Photo, FileBritain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana and their sons, Princes William, right, and Harry begin a cycle ride, June 1, 1989, around the island of Tresco, one of the Scilly Isles.
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AP Photo/Hans Deryk, File
Britain's Prince William shakes hands with admirers during a stop at St. James Cathedral in Toronto, Canada, in this Oct. 27, 1991 file photo.
AP Photo/Hans Deryk, FileBritain's Prince William shakes hands with admirers during a stop at St. James Cathedral in Toronto, Canada, in this Oct. 27, 1991 file photo.
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AP Photo/Gill Allen, File
Britain's Princess Diana and her son Prince William applaud the Wimbledon Ladies' Tennis Championship presentations after the final, July 1, 1994.
AP Photo/Gill Allen, FileBritain's Princess Diana and her son Prince William applaud the Wimbledon Ladies' Tennis Championship presentations after the final, July 1, 1994.
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Ulli Michel/ Pool via AP, File
Prince William walks with his head bowed behind the coffin of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, on its way to London's Westminster Abbey for a funeral ceremony, Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997.
Ulli Michel/ Pool via AP, FilePrince William walks with his head bowed behind the coffin of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, on its way to London's Westminster Abbey for a funeral ceremony, Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997.
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Ian Jones, Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William, wearing a Union Jack waistcoat, poses for a photo in this 2000 photo in Eton, England.
Ian Jones, Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William, wearing a Union Jack waistcoat, poses for a photo in this 2000 photo in Eton, England.
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Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William carries out maintenance work in the village of Tortel, Southern Chile during his Raleigh International expedition in this recent but undated photo made available Monday Dec. 11, 2000.
Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William carries out maintenance work in the village of Tortel, Southern Chile during his Raleigh International expedition in this recent but undated photo made available Monday Dec. 11, 2000.
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AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II; her eldest son, Prince Charles left; and his eldest son, Prince William, pose for a photograph at Clarence House in London., June 2, 2003.
AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, FileBritain's Queen Elizabeth II; her eldest son, Prince Charles left; and his eldest son, Prince William, pose for a photograph at Clarence House in London., June 2, 2003.
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Ian Hodgson/Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William blows out the candles on a birthday cake given to him, Thursday, June 19, 2003, during a visit to the Anglesey Food Fair in North Wales.
Ian Hodgson/Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William blows out the candles on a birthday cake given to him, Thursday, June 19, 2003, during a visit to the Anglesey Food Fair in North Wales.
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Barry Batchelor, Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince William, left, cheers as he makes his water polo debut for the Scottish national universities squad in the annual Celtic Nations tournament against Wales and Ireland in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, April 17, 2004.
Barry Batchelor, Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince William, left, cheers as he makes his water polo debut for the Scottish national universities squad in the annual Celtic Nations tournament against Wales and Ireland in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, April 17, 2004.
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David Cheskin, Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince William pauses in St Salvator's Quad at St Andrews University where he is a student in St Andrews Scotland Monday Nov. 15, 2004.
David Cheskin, Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince William pauses in St Salvator's Quad at St Andrews University where he is a student in St Andrews Scotland Monday Nov. 15, 2004.
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AP Photo/Mark Baker, File
Prince William kicks a rugby ball during a training session with some members of the British and Irish Lions players in Wellington, New Zealand, Friday, July 1, 2005.
AP Photo/Mark Baker, FilePrince William kicks a rugby ball during a training session with some members of the British and Irish Lions players in Wellington, New Zealand, Friday, July 1, 2005.
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AP Photo/Sang Tan, pool, File
Britain's Prince William, marches with other graduates, during the Sovereign's parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, near Camberley, England, Friday Dec. 15, 2006.
AP Photo/Sang Tan, pool, FileBritain's Prince William, marches with other graduates, during the Sovereign's parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, near Camberley, England, Friday Dec. 15, 2006.
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AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File
Britain's Prince William gestures as he walks across the airfield at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, England, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008.
AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, FileBritain's Prince William gestures as he walks across the airfield at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, England, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008.
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Michael Dunlea, Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton walk in RAF Cranwell, England after William received his RAF wings from his father the Prince of Wales Friday April 11, 2008.
Michael Dunlea, Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton walk in RAF Cranwell, England after William received his RAF wings from his father the Prince of Wales Friday April 11, 2008.
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AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File
Britain's Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton pose for the media at St. James's Palace in London, Tuesday Nov. 16, 2010, after they announced their engagement.
AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, FileBritain's Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton pose for the media at St. James's Palace in London, Tuesday Nov. 16, 2010, after they announced their engagement.
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Christopher Furlong, Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is escorted by Prince William, during a visit to RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales, where he is stationed as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, Friday April 1, 2011.
Christopher Furlong, Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Queen Elizabeth II is escorted by Prince William, during a visit to RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales, where he is stationed as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, Friday April 1, 2011.
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Dominic Lipinski, Pool) Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey, London, Friday April 29, 2011.
Dominic Lipinski, Pool) Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey, London, Friday April 29, 2011.
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AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge stand outside of Westminster Abbey after their Royal Wedding in London on Friday, April, 29, 2011.
AP Photo/Martin Meissner, FileBritain's Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge stand outside of Westminster Abbey after their Royal Wedding in London on Friday, April, 29, 2011.
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AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge holding their son, Tuesday July 23, 2013, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London.
AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, FileBritain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge holding their son, Tuesday July 23, 2013, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London.
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John Stillwell/Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William, holds his son Prince George as they arrive at Chapel Royal in St James's Palace in London, for the christening of the three month-old Prince Wednesday Oct. 23, 2013.
John Stillwell/Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William, holds his son Prince George as they arrive at Chapel Royal in St James's Palace in London, for the christening of the three month-old Prince Wednesday Oct. 23, 2013.
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Stefan Rousseau, Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge walks, with an East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) in the background, as he begins his new role, at Cambridge Airport, Cambridge, in England, Monday July 13, 2015.
Stefan Rousseau, Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge walks, with an East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) in the background, as he begins his new role, at Cambridge Airport, Cambridge, in England, Monday July 13, 2015.
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Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, attends the annual Festival of Remembrance with Prince Philip, Prince William, right and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, in London, England, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, attends the annual Festival of Remembrance with Prince Philip, Prince William, right and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, in London, England, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
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AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool, File
Britain's Prince William, background center, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, background and Prince Harry take part in a relay race, during a training event to promote the charity Heads Together, in London, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool, FileBritain's Prince William, background center, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, background and Prince Harry take part in a relay race, during a training event to promote the charity Heads Together, in London, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
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Philippe Huguen/Pool Photo via AP, File
FILE From left, Britain's Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry attend a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, in Vimy, France, Sunday, April 9, 2017.
Philippe Huguen/Pool Photo via AP, FileFILE From left, Britain's Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry attend a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, in Vimy, France, Sunday, April 9, 2017.
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Ben Birchhall/Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince Harry, left, reacts as he walks with Prince William as they arrive for his wedding to Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, in Windsor, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018.
Ben Birchhall/Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince Harry, left, reacts as he walks with Prince William as they arrive for his wedding to Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, in Windsor, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018.
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AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File
Britain's Prince William delivers a speech, during the launch of the Heads Up Weekends, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.
AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, FileBritain's Prince William delivers a speech, during the launch of the Heads Up Weekends, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.
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Dominic Lipinski /Pool Photo via AP, File
Prince Harry, left, and Prince William stand during the unveiling of a statue of their mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, in Kensington Palace, London, Thursday July 1, 2021.
Dominic Lipinski /Pool Photo via AP, FilePrince Harry, left, and Prince William stand during the unveiling of a statue of their mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, in Kensington Palace, London, Thursday July 1, 2021.
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Dominic Lipinski /Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William, left and Prince Harry unveil a statue of their mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, Thursday July 1, 2021.
Dominic Lipinski /Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William, left and Prince Harry unveil a statue of their mother Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, Thursday July 1, 2021.
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Toby Melville/Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince William delivers a speech at the Tusk Conservation Awards in London, Monday Nov. 22, 2021.
Toby Melville/Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince William delivers a speech at the Tusk Conservation Awards in London, Monday Nov. 22, 2021.
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Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via AP, File
Prince William salutes veterans on Horse Guards Parade during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, Sunday Nov. 14, 2021.
Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via AP, FilePrince William salutes veterans on Horse Guards Parade during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, Sunday Nov. 14, 2021.
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Yui Mok/Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince William, left and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge attend the 'Royal Carols - Together At Christmas', a Christmas carol concert hosted by the duchess at Westminster Abbey in London, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021.
Yui Mok/Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince William, left and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge attend the 'Royal Carols - Together At Christmas', a Christmas carol concert hosted by the duchess at Westminster Abbey in London, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021.
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Chris Jackson/Pool via AP, File
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attend the 1st Battalion Irish Guards' St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks, Thursday March 17, 2022 in Aldershot, England.
Chris Jackson/Pool via AP, FileBritain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge attend the 1st Battalion Irish Guards' St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks, Thursday March 17, 2022 in Aldershot, England.
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Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William sits by the The Imperial State Crown in the House of Lords Chamber, during the State Opening of Parliament, in the Houses of Parliament, in London, Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William sits by the The Imperial State Crown in the House of Lords Chamber, during the State Opening of Parliament, in the Houses of Parliament, in London, Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
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Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William visits at the Heart of Midlothian Football Club, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday May 12, 2022.
Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William visits at the Heart of Midlothian Football Club, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday May 12, 2022.
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AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File
Britain's Prince William, President of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, leaves after visiting to learn about the innovative work that is currently carrying out to improve cancer diagnosis, in London, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, FileBritain's Prince William, President of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, leaves after visiting to learn about the innovative work that is currently carrying out to improve cancer diagnosis, in London, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
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Jeff J Mitchell/Pool photo via AP, File
Britain's Prince William speaks during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Jeff J Mitchell/Pool photo via AP, FileBritain's Prince William speaks during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
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Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP, File
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP, FileKate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022.
