Prince William celebrates 42nd birthday today and here’s 11 handsome pictures of him

Prince William, the heir to the throne, is celebrating his 42nd birthday today, June 21.

William Arthur Philip Louis was born at was born at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital to his parents, the now-King Charles and the late Princess Diana.

His birth seemingly had a profound effect on his father, with a letter to his second cousin the Countess of Mountbatten of Burma revealing this.

The then-Prince of Wales wrote: “The arrival of our small son has been an astonishing experience and one that has meant more to me than I ever could have imagined. I am so thankful I was beside Diana’s bedside the whole time because I felt as though I’d shared deeply in the process of birth and as a result was rewarded by seeing a small creature who belonged to us even though he seemed to belong to everyone else as well.”

Now a father and husband himself, William’s popularity has increased beyond measure. Here, Express.co.uk marks his special day by sharing 11 handsome pictures of the royal heir.

Just before 10pm on June 21, 1982, Prince William’s birth was announced by Buckingham Palace. The official read: “Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was today safely delivered of a son at 9.03pm.

“Her Royal Highness and her son are both doing well.” Shortly after the main announcement, a spokesperson revealed that the baby boy had weighed 7lb 1/2oz.

As tradition, William’s birth was announced via a statement posted on a gilded easel outside Buckingham Palace. Princess Diana appeared to break royal tradition with William’s birth at a London hospital as royal babies were typically born in palaces.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was said to be “absolutely delighted” by the birth of her newest grandchild.

The late monarch, who died in 2022, was the first to learn of his arrival. Although his childhood was anything but regular as a member of the world’s most famous family, Princess Diana was keen to give Prince William and Prince Harry a “normal” upbringing.

William began his education at Mrs Mynors Nursery School in West London before becoming a pupil at the pre-prep Wetherby School in 1987.

From 1990, the young royal attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire for five years until he started at Eton College in 1995 where he took his GCSEs and A Levels.

Prince William began to become a teenager heartthrob during the late 1990s, with a study conducted, per Pubity, claiming that he was “declared the sexiest man alive”.

In 1998, when he was around 16/17 years old, William’s popularity in this respect was overwhelmingly displayed for the first time during a visit to Canada with King Charles, and Prince Harry.

The reaction was given the nickname “Willsmania” by the press. The reaction William received was dramatised in the final season of Netflix’s royal series The Crown.

Fast forward to 2000, the young prince was celebrating his 18th birthday. This picture of him wearing a jacket over a Union Jack vest emblazoned with the words ‘Groovy Baby’ was taken at Eton College to commemorate his milestone birthday.

When William enrolled at Eton five years prior, in 1995, he became the first senior royal to enrol at the Berkshire-based school. During his time at the college, he was fiercely protected from the press.

Speaking at the time, John Wakeham – who was chairman of the Press Complaints Commission – said of the agreement: “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.”

Prince William enrolled at University of St Andrews in 2001 after taking a gap year. He originally enrolled to take on a course in Art History – like his future wife – but changed to study Geography instead.

Speaking at the time of enrolling, William explained why had chosen to study in Scotland. He said: “The reason I didn’t want to go to an English university is because I have lived there and wanted to get away and try somewhere else.

“I also knew I would be seeing a lot of Wales in the future. And I do love Scotland. There is plenty of space, I love the hills and mountains and I thought St Andrews had a real community feel to it.”

William later met his now-wife, Princess Kate – who also attended the same university. The pair began as just friends, before they began dating a short while after. He graduated in 2005 with a 2:1.