WILLIAM TURNS 40!
With his milestone birthday in the books, Prince William makes big plans for the future
Prince William was in a reflective mood. “I was 11 when I first visited a homeless shelter with my mother, who in her own inimitable style was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem,” he wrote of the late Princess Diana in an essay released on June 20 — the day before his 40th birthday. “I have always believed in using my platform to bring attention and action to those who are struggling. I plan to do that now I’m turning 40, even more than I have in the past.”
That’s just one of many goals the future king has set for himself in this milestone year. “Turning 40 has really resonated with William. He sees it as a new chapter in his life, and he’s determined to heed the lessons he’s learned up until now,” says a source.
The biggest one? Balancing family and duty. As he takes on more royal responsibilities from ailing Queen Elizabeth II, William is moving his wife, Kate Middleton, 40, and their kids, Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, from bustling London to the English countryside “so that he can be even more present as a husband and father. They are his first priority.”
GETTING THRONE-READY
Their new home base of Adelaide Cottage is located on the grounds of Windsor Castle — the 96-year-old queen’s new permanent residence — placing the duke just 10 minutes away from his mentor. “Her Majesty has made it clear that while Prince Charles will succeed her, she wants William to take on a much larger role than anyone in his position has before,” says the source. “And William says there’s no better training than spending time with Elizabeth and shadowing her as he carves his own place in the monarchy.”
He’s got ambitious plans. “William has a lot of bold ideas about how the royal family needs to change with the times,” says the source. Not only does he share his father’s passion for protecting the environment, but his recent tour of the Caribbean with Kate highlighted the need for his family to acknowledge their problematic past in the former colonies, “which he will address if Charles doesn’t,” adds the source. “His generation is much more receptive when it comes to righting past wrongs, and he’s already preparing for how he’ll handle these sensitive issues when he becomes king. This milestone birthday has really had William thinking about how he can be a better leader. All he wants is to make his country — and his family — proud.”