The British economy is not immune to the worldwide recession and many feel that a royal engagement could be just the tonic to jump start the nation’s pulse. However, as second in line to the British throne, Prince William seems focused on accomplishing as much as he can before settling into the role that he was destined to fulfill. With naysayers still murmuring thoughts about the potential demise of the monarchy, Willliam’s behavior is obviously setting the tone for a long future of the House of Windsor.
A Brief Biography Of Prince William
Famously born in 1982 to Prince Charles and the now late Diana, Princess of Wales, William has literally grown up under the public microscope. Blossoming into a handsome young man, he attended prestigious schools such as Ludgrove and Eton. In 2005 he earned his degree in geography graduating 2:1 (Upper Second-Class Honors) from St. Andrews University Scotland.
Military Duty Before Royal Duty
As with many of his ancestors, William is spending his time fulfilling his military career before his public life in the Royal Family consumes him. After completing his initial training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, William forged ahead with service in the Blues and Royals from 2006-2008. As that service came to an end, he surprised the media (and perhaps Kate Middleton, his girlfriend of the past six years) by beginning his training to become a Sea King pilot in the Royal Air Force’s Search and Rescue Force. This latest tour of duty could occupy his time for the next four years.
Unlike his brother, Prince Harry, William’s rank within the royal family precludes him from joining his military peers in deployment. While Harry was sent to Afghanistan to fight with his squadron, William was left behind. Similarly, King Edward VIII fell victim to the same supression while his was still carrying the title of Prince of Wales in the early part of the twentieth century. Plagued with the feeling of inadequacy while donning his military uniform at state occasions, Edward gradually became resentful of his role within the royal family. William is often noted for feeling frustrated with his inability to obtain the marked achievements that have come fairly easily to Harry.
The Royal Future For Prince William
Notwithstanding, William is well-grounded in his vision of the future and what he represents to the British people, a quality imbedded in him from both his father and his mother. For now, he seems challenged with his new employment and enjoying the chance to become a pilot in his own right and to serve without being faced with enemy fire.
Although the Queen is fully active in her role as sovereign, she is now in her eighties. She seems determined to exceed Victoria’s longest-reigning monarch title of 63 years, which would extend her reign until 2016. She seems perfectly able to live to the age of eighty-nine, especially noting that her mother, the Queen Mother, lived to the ripe age of one hundred-one. Still, noting the Queen’s age, movement in the royal house could be on the horizon advancing Charles to position of monarch and William into the role of heir to the throne.
Blessed with his mother’s good looks and charm, William is abundantly aware that he needs to prove himself worthy to lead in the public’s eye on merits other than his physical persona. He has learned from the mistakes made by his parents and now, at the age of 26 William has settled into a more cautious public role.
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