Interview: Prince William
Date: July 9. 2009

HRH Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Windsor is the first son of Charles, the Prince of Wales, and the late Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales. Being so, he is second in line to the crown of the United Kingdom and its territories.

That makes William one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, sought after by multitudes — including Britney Spears. Forbes even recognized Prince William as the “Hottest Young Royal” on Earth.

Princess Diana, who gave birth to Prince William on June 21, 1982, tried to raise her children in normal circumstances. By her prerogative, Prince William went to London’s Eton College rather than to Charles’ old school. While Charles would take Princes William and Harry to fishing excursions, their mother would tour them around shelters and AIDS treatment centers.

Prince William shared a special bond with his mother. According to Vanity Fair, Prince William would slip tissues to his mother, crying after quarrels with Charles. His parents eventually divorced in 1996.

On August 31, 1997, when he was just 15, Prince William lost his mother to a car crash in Paris. Days later, millions watched him on TV as he walked in Diana’s funeral cortege towards Westminster Abbey.

Diana’s humanitarianism lives on today in Prince William, who patronizes several charities, including Centrepoint, Tusk Trust, and that of his brother, Sentebale. In fact, he was the one who urged Diana to hold her legendary charity auction in 1997.

In 2000, Prince William graduated from Eton and used his gap year to travel across Chile and Africa. Upon his return, he entered Scotland’s St. Andrews University and procured his masters in geography in 2005.

Following a brief period as, among others, an employee for HSBC, the prince became a cadet at Sandhurst’s Royal Military Academy. He was later commissioned as a lieutenant in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals. At present, he is training to become a search and rescue pilot of the Royal Air Force.

Britain’s future king has been linked to many prospective queens. At one point, he and pop monarch Britney Spears corresponded via email to arrange a date. But British media has speculated his likely consort would be St. Andrews schoolmate Kate Middleton.