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In pictures

Prince William: a life in pictures

Duke of Cambridge celebrates 39th birthday following surprise public appearance

by
21 Jun 2021

Today is the 39th birthday of Prince William, the father-of-three who is second in line to the throne. 

It has been a difficult year for the Duke of Cambridge, who not only lost his grandfather, Prince Philip, but has also had to navigate his brother’s move to Los Angeles and high-profile falling out with the Royal Family. 

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Back in March, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed to Oprah Winfrey that an unnamed member of what they dubbed “the firm” had discussed how dark their baby would be. 

Meghan also told the TV host that a 2018 rumour that she had made Kate Middleton cry ahead of Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress fitting was untrue - and in fact the Duchess of Cambridge had been the one to leave the former Suits star in tears. 

Kate will “be aware that this year has been tough for William and will want both his birthday and Father's Day to be special for him”, royal expert Katie Nicholl told OK! Magazine. Nicholl predicted that William would spend the day at Kensington Palace with his wife and children, George (seven), Charlotte (six) and Louis (three).

On Father’s Day, the day before William’s birthday, the Duke of Cambridge and his two eldest children thrilled participants of an inaugural race around the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk by making a surprise appearance. 

“William, George and Charlotte arrived just before the half marathon got underway,” reports the Eastern Daily Press. “They walked to the stage holding hands, before sending runners on their way.”

William’s birthday had initially fallen on “freedom day” - the day the UK’s remaining lockdown restrictions had been set to ease and normality to resume. 

But the rapid spread of the Delta variant and the UK’s increasing coronavirus infection rate has led the big day to be pushed to July 19 - meaning that the Duke of Cambridge will have to wait another four weeks before throwing any major birthday celebrations.

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William, Harry, Diana and Charles in 1995

William, Harry, Princess Diana and Prince Charles watch a parade march past as part of VJ Day commemorations in London in 1995

JOHNNY EGGITT/AFP via Getty Images

Prince William greets wellwishers in July 2004

Prince William greets wellwishers in July 2004 at the unveiling of a fountain built in memory of his mother in Hyde Park, London

NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP via Getty Images

Diana Concert

William and Harry speak on stage with Sir Elton John at the Concert for Diana at London’s Wembley Stadium in July 2007. The event took place 10 years after Diana’s death

Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton announce their engagement

William and Kate Middleton announce their engagement on 16 November 2010. William proposed during a holiday in Kenya, using his mother’s 12-carat oval sapphire and diamond engagement ring

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding day

Around 24 million TV viewers in the UK alone watched William and Kate’s wedding ceremony, with hundreds of millions more tuning in from all around the world

Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images

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Kate and William's balcony kiss

The newly-weds share a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Prince George is born

The new parents show off their first child, Prince George, born on 22 July 2013. “It’s very emotional,” Kate said. “It’s such a special time. I think any parent will know what this feeling feels like”

BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images

Prince George on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand

Prince George with his parents on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2014. He was “the star of the show”, the BBC reported at the time

David Gray - Pool/Getty Images

Princess Charlotte's christening

William walks hand in hand with George as Kate pushes a pram holding newborn Princess Charlotte. Crowds gathered outside the Queen’s Sandringham estate as the family arrived for the christening of Charlotte, born 2 May 2015, at St Mary Magdalene Church

MATT DUNHAM/AFP via Getty Images

William, George and Charlotte

William arrives at the Lindo Wing in London with Prince George and Princess Charlotte shortly after Kate gave birth to Prince Louis, who is fifth in line to the throne

Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

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William and the Queen

William stands by as his grandmother, the Queen, unveils a plaque to officially open a new centre at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory near Salisbury in October 2020

Kate and Will in Westminster Abbey

Kate and William at Westminster Abbey’s Covid vaccination centre in March

AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

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