Prince William of Wales & Catherine

HRH Prince William of Wales, eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales, was born in hospital at Paddington on 21st June 1982. He attended Eton College and St Andrew's university. After leaving the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst he joined the Household Cavalry. In 2009 he began training as a search and rescue pilot with the RAF. He then worked as an Air Ambulance pilot from 2015-17. Now he supports the monarch in royal and charitable duties and is Patron of many institutions and organisations. In 2024 he was appointed Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, who use the Lady Chapel at the Abbey for the installation of their knights.

Marriage

His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG and Miss Catherine Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29th April 2011. The service was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the groom's grandparents, and HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Miss Middleton arrived at the Abbey accompanied by her father Mr Michael Middleton. Miss Philippa Middleton was the bride's maid-of-honour, with four other bridesmaids and two page boys. HRH Prince Henry of Wales was the bridegroom's best man. The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, and the marriage was solemnised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams. An anthem was specially composed for the service by Dr John Rutter.

Eight 20 foot high English field maple and hornbeam trees in planters lined the nave and the couple chose flowers and trees sourced from Royal estates and other British growers, including azaleas, rhododendron, euphorbias, wisteria, beech and lilac. More than 24 million people in the UK watched the service on television as well as 23 million in the USA. Following the wedding the title Duke of Cambridge was conferred on the Prince by his grandmother.

They have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The couple were created Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III shortly after his accession to the throne in 2022.

Their illuminated marriage licence can be viewed in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the Abbey triforium.