Prince William has had a busy year.
The Duke of Cambridge celebrated his first anniversary with Catherine Middleton and toasted Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. And on Thursday, he adds another milestone to his list: his 30th birthday.
He's now also legally entitled to half of his mother's inheritance, which was left to him after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in 1997. His half of the inheritance, according to The Daily Telegraph, would likely be around $15.5 million, with the current currency exchange rate. (What William can buy with that chunk of change)
William has been in the spotlight as the eventual heir to the British throne since early childhood. He's endured his parents' breakup, his mother's death and his own big royal wedding all while the world watched along with him.
The Duke of Cambridge has recently said he and his wife are excited about the prospect of bringing a child into the world.
“I’m just very keen to have a family, and both Catherine and I, you know, are looking forward to having a family in the future," he told ABC's Katie Couric before the Diamond Jubilee.
To celebrate William's big day, we wanted to take a look back at his life. After all, many people would say that he and Catherine have helped the royal family become popular again by making the monarchy more accessible to the public.
Click through the gallery above to see William's evolution from Diana and Charles' lovable young son to the Duke of Cambridge.
More on Prince William:
How William, Kate and Harry made royals coolÂ
Well Happy Birthday prince and many happy returns.
In related news. The Queen hit by the rising cost of living gets a raise in salary. Its now 56 million.
Congrats Your Majesty.
The Queen did not receive an increase because of the cost of living. The Queen receives 15% of the income from the crown estate, which she technically owns but the majority of which is turned over to the treasury. The Crown Estate had a big year.
Why is this news?
Did you get $15.5M as a birthday gift this year?
Did you know about this Bill? Well then, it's "news".
Why did your parents have you?
... because you read it.
If you aren't interested in reading it, why waste your time by being here??
Like he has ever looked at a price tag?
Exactly, he probably doesn't have any idea of that "things" cost (cars, houses, Big Macs, etc.)..
Martha, the church gossiper and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business.
Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Henry, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Henry and several others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.
Henry, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing. Later that evening, Henry quietly parked his pickup in front of Martha's house...walked home.... and left it there all night.
are you off your meds – posting foolishness that does not have relevance to the article at all. Its amazing how the atheist religion can't go a second without pushing their hate out there
LOL, thank you, you gave me a good laugh!
@ dman0001... the church was just a convenient social grouping. It could have been the small down librarian, PTA treasurer, etc (making her the keeper of the town's morals, or the PTAs morals, etc.) Please don't confuse the actual persecution suffered by some of the faithful with your own paranoia. Are YOU off YOUR meds?
I don't get the fascination with this family. Sure the new princess is attractive, but every 3rd story on the "Today" show has something to do with the queen, or the kids, or blah blah blah.
If I were Matt Lauer I'd be embarrassed to have to chat about them constantly and have to deliver the information like he cares. I want some news, maybe sports scores, weather and traffic. I know Today can't do local traffic, but I really don't need to see where these goofs are vacationing next. How about report on Eric Holder – that's actual news.
Who is Eric Holder?
A bunch of transplanted Germans running what is left of the British Empire.
Good for Princess Diana; she left her sons some financial independence from "The Firm." When Prince William becomes king he should rebury his mother in Westminster Abbey in a place of honor.
I believe Diana did not want to be buried anywhere near the other "royals". That is why she was buried at her family home.
Timme62 - I disagree; one of the most magnificent tombs in Westminster Abbey is that of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was originally buried in Peterborough Cathedral after she was beheaded on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I but after Mary's son, James, succeeded Elizabeth and became King, he reburied his mother in the Lady Chapel: "To God, the best and greatest. To her good memory, and in eternal hope. DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES..."
Check out the guard in pic#6 with his tongue sticking out and the little girl in pic#31–she is classic royal.
And I had forgotten how pretty Princess Diana was.
In Picture #31, the expression on the face of the little girl just says it all.
I'd say something about how it's odd that there are places in this world where they still accept people being 'better' or 'above' them simply by accident of birth... but this country is not so slowly going back that way.
$15.5 million.... who cares... it doesn't mean anything. In twenty or so years he'll be king and will have billions. Money is not a factor in a royal's life.
That's good he doesn't have to live paycheck to paycheck anymore.
Spoiled brat of a kid. We need to get rid of the monarchy ASAP and make these idiots get real jobs.
Jealous much? They do work, do lots for charity. He didn't ask to be born into a wealthy family.
Are you part of the British Empire? If your American, what do you care.
He HAS a real job. Military service where he rescues people on a daily basis.
Who wants to know?
I am so glad because I was really worried how he could support his lifestyle. PHEW...what a relief to know he is taken care of...thanks CNN for easing my mind.