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
Yep, Bitter, jealous, and jaded. That's what most of you are. He didn't asked for his life. The irony of this is, while you harp on the life he was given, you waste yours. Maybe you should get a life? Maybe?
Daniel, if you are in the USA, then maybe you should go home. If you are not in the USA, then stay where you are. You obviously don't like Americans, and we had to beat you guys in our Revolutionary War, and again in the War of 1812 because we don't like royalty.
Born and raised in America. And I love Americans, just not the jaded, bitter and jealous type. Bye.
What the hell does "Wills" mean?
Maybe that's a brit word for Parasite.
America didnt fight the British over royalty, America didnt want to pay its taxes. It was cheaper to fight a war then to pay up.
Or maybe it's the Prince's nickname.
Oh, not maybe, it IS his nickname.
Just for the record. the USA got its ass kicked in the war of 1812 by the Canadians. That included occupying Washington, (taken without firing a shot), having lunch in the White House and then burning it. Your pres...Madison fled, (his wife carried the portrait of Washington) Pick up a book and do some reading.
WILLS is short for William
so why are the british people paying for these freeloaders?
boy they are stupid
well steveb, I agree it appears to be a waste of money....but, it's thier money to waste....we here in the states have 47% of the population not paying taxes and yet they use the vast majority of the services offered. Waste of money as well......but I understand why....if you give the poor free stuff they vote for the party that gave it to them.....so, that's why all the poor favor the left.....they fell "sorry" for them and hate the big mean rich (white) people who create jobs and dare to be successful....clear as a bell.
They don't. The British royal family pay more into the treasury than they draw from the Civil List by voluntarily submitting all revenue from the royal estates (land that the monarchy collectively owns) as designated by King George III.
While its true that it costs about 30million to support the royal family for the entire year, the money made from their holdings, like tours of Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, etc, make back more money than they are given. So in the end they cost nothing.
It is a Trust from his late Mothers estate. What does this have to do with the British People? He seems like a good guy for being Royalty. Much better adjusted than a Kardasian
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9.
The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
American's recieve inheiritances from their families it is no different in Europe. He has joined the military and is doing his part. and really 15 million isnt that much anymore.
Rich or not, I could care less how much money they have or inheritance or whatnot. They could be dirt poor, it doesn't chance the fact human beings are accepting the belief that they (the Royals) are above them, better than them, simply by birth.
What is all the bowing and curtsying for? The 'your highness' and 'your majesty'? A cute little anachronistic game to be played? Sorry, but when you do that, you are basically grovelling before your masters.
You'd think with all that money he could get some better teeth, that boy is nice looking until he smiles
HA HA HA......I swear it is the common theme in England to have "chicklets" for teeth:)
beautify colonialism,i guess working for the ones with limited history.
no, not by making them more accessible to the public, but by being younger and attractive so people don't have to look at prince charles and his alfred e neuman ears or the wrinkled up, boring old queen.....Catherine is a breath of fresh air and the first attractive one of the lot.
You are right....Catherine is a "breath of fresh air" that was a millionaire's daughter who was groomed by her mother to attend the same university as the prince and eventually marry him....
You all act like she is a god what I see is she is a..... spoiled , rich ,....ART major......oh and she was also on the crew team......sounds a little like Harvard doesn't it?????
HMMMMM wonder what she is going to do with her degree???? I am SURE that is why she went to college!!!!!!!!! LOL
Hate the GAME (centuries of british imperialism) not the player (some kid who was born the year Thriller went #1)
A lot of criticism from the US ...... who need to look a little more closely at their violent, drug riddled, bankrupt, corrupt, crumbling and divided nation, before putting down the United Kingdom and their way of life.
On this issue completely correct to the nay sayers but Britain has some tax spending and immigration issues all its own.
Open a window in your trailor..... your breath stinks
Talking to yourself in the mirror again?
Hey Duke: Can I get a grant?
Hey Kevin! We haven't forgotten that incident in 1812. Canada's time is coming sooner than you think. Think 51st state. We will turn them into our pool boys while they pay off their debt to us.
keep dreaming roger. with the way our respective economies are, maybe we'll take pity on you and let you be our 11th province
Go to redneckville in the South, and you'll see teeth that make the Brit's look magnificent.
Oh yes, because all Southerns are rednecks and have no teeth. You are so ignorant. I bet you have never left your neighborhood so what do you know about the South, let alone England.
i just married a gal from ky 48 yrs ols had all her teeth
Crebe – "had" ? did you knock them out?
You will see the same things in the tenements and trailer parks of New York and the other Yankee states. It has nothing to do with location, and everything to do with poverty. Looks like my Southern education was superior to yours as "education breeds tolerance".
Weird though that the South has so much more poverty than the North though, innit?
Pick-up line down there is "Nice tooth!"