When little William Arthur Philip Louis was born on 21 June 1982, he had no idea of the incredible destiny that awaited him. The son of the former Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, William was directly second in the order of succession to the British throne. And he was brought up with just one objective in mind: to make him the perfect heir to the English throne. A successful challenge for Prince William, who has spent forty years of his life serving his country without ever failing in his role. And on 8 September 2022, his life changed with the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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As she drew her last breath, Her Majesty automatically passed on her powers to her heir and eldest son: Charles. From Prince Charles, he became King Charles III, making way for Prince William. Direct heir to the throne of England, Kate Middleton's husband is now the Prince of Wales.
Prince William pledged allegiance to King Charles
On 6 May 2023, at his father's coronation, he swore allegiance to him before the Church of England and the whole world. The day after the ceremony, the father of George, Charlotte and Louis gave a moving speech.
For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: Service. My father’s first words on entering Westminster Abbey yesterday were a pledge of service. It was a pledge to continue to serve.
Because for over 50 years, in every corner of the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world, he has dedicated himself to serve others, both current and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected.
He ended with a loving tribute to his father:
Pa, we are all so proud of you.
What name will Prince William choose to take the throne?
In the eternal cycle of the British monarchy, William will become king the day Charles III passes away. And many Internet users are already wondering what the Prince of Wales' name will be the day he ascends the throne. It is customary for monarchs to change their first names. This was the case with King George VI, whose first name was actually Albert! But Elizabeth II broke with protocol by becoming Queen and keeping her birth name, and Charles followed in his mother's footsteps by also keeping his first name.
Logically, William will probably continue the tradition established by his late grandmother. As Town and Country magazine pointed out, the former Duke of Cambridge is expected to be called William V. But as he also has the first names Arthur, Philip and Louis, he could choose to pay tribute to his grandfather, the late Duke of Edinburgh, by deciding to be called Philip. This seems an unlikely hypothesis, given that Prince William is in favour of a more modern monarchy.
This article has been translated from Voici.
Read more:
⋙ Royal Family members who are left-handed, from Prince William to Queen Victoria
⋙ King Charles: The monarch made this promise to Prince William according to a royal expert
Sources used:
Town & Country: What Will Prince William Be Called When He Is King?
Mirror: Read Prince William's full speech dedicated to King Charles at Coronation concert
