King of United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and 12 other Commonwealth realms | |
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William V | |
Incumbent | |
File:220px-Prince William of Wales RAF.jpg King of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms:
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Details | |
Heir apparent | George, Prince of Wales |
First monarch | Anne |
Residence | Buckingham Palace |
William V (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is, and has been since his accession in 2013, King of the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand, and Head of the Commonwealth. He is also King of 12 countries that have become independent before his reign: Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
William was educated at four schools in the United Kingdom and obtained a degree from the University of St Andrews. He spent parts of a gap year in Chile, Belize, and Africa. In December 2006, he completed 44 weeks of training as an officer cadet, being commissioned in the Blues and Royals Regiment. In April 2008, he qualified as a pilot (earning his wings) by completing pilot training at Royal Air Force College Cranwell. He then underwent helicopter flying training in order to become a full-time pilot with the RAF Search and Rescue Force in early 2009. His more than seven-and-a-half years of full-time service with the British Armed Forces ended in January 2013, when he became King.
William married Catherine Middleton, on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey. Hours prior to the event, he was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. Their first child, Prince George of Wales, was born on 22 July 2013, and their second, Princess Charlotte of York, was born on 2 May 2015. His father acceded to the throne on the death of his mother Elizabeth II in 2012, from which time he was the heir presumptive. His father was assassinated in January 2013 and William ascended to the throne.