Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, received a special honor on his 42nd birthday at the iconic Westminster Abbey, where he exchanged vows with Kate Middleton in 2011.
The milestone occasion, celebrated on June 21, was commemorated by the ringing of the historic Abbey’s bells, a tradition long associated with royal birthdays.
In a heartwarming message shared on social media, Westminster Abbey extended warm birthday wishes to the Prince of Wales, accompanied by a photo of Prince William attending the Commonwealth Day service in March.
The Abbey further announced plans to ring the bells at 1pm in celebration of the prince’s special day.
Traditionally, Westminster Abbey has rung its bells to mark the birthdays of various members of the royal family.
However, recent financial challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in the number of royals receiving this esteemed honor.
Prior to 2020, the bells tolled for 12 royal birthdays, including those of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, their children – now King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward – as well as Charles’ wife, Camilla.
The list also included Prince William, Princess Kate, and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
In a shift from tradition, Westminster Abbey revised its bell-ringing schedule for 2022, announcing that moving forward, only the birthdays of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles would be honored with the ringing of the bells.
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, the Abbey once again adjusted its protocol, now recognizing the birthdays of King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate exclusively.
The historic London Church also reserves its bell tolls for other significant royal events, such as the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s passing and King Charles’ accession in September.
Amidst a flurry of birthday wishes, Prince William received heartfelt tributes from various charities he supports, as well as from his family.
The royal family’s official Instagram account and former pages shared touching messages and throwback photos, while the Prince and Princess of Wales released a new snapshot of William with his children.
Captured by Kate, the image depicted a joyous moment of the family holding hands and jumping in the air, accompanied by a sweet birthday message from the Princess of Wales.
Venturing out for a soccer match at the Frankfurt Arena on June 20, Prince William displayed his passion for the sport, donning a red, white, and blue tie in support of England during the UEFA Euro 2024 group stage match against Denmark.
As the president of the Football Association, the governing body of English soccer, Prince William engaged in friendly banter with King Frederick of Denmark before the game, sharing a moment captured in a photograph with Frederick’s daughter, Princess Josephine.
The royal outing to Germany marked just one of Prince William’s recent public appearances, amidst a busy schedule for the royal family.
From participating in the Trooping the Colour parade celebrating King Charles’ official birthday to attending soccer games in support of his favorite team, Aston Villa, Prince William has maintained an active presence despite personal challenges.
With Princess Kate battling cancer and undergoing treatment, the royal couple continues to navigate both public duties and private struggles with grace and resilience.