Prince William, the heir to the British throne, celebrates his 44th birthday on June 21, which coincides with Father's Day in the UK. He is expected to spend the day privately with his wife Princess Kate, and their three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis. Despite being one of the most recognized figures globally, much of William's personal life remains shielded from public view. This article delves into his finances, friendships, diet, exercise habits, personality, and the ongoing rift with his brother, Prince Harry.
Net Worth and Financial Empire
Estimating the wealth of the Royal Family is complex, with Prince William's net worth ranging from £80 million to £1.1 billion. The bulk of his fortune comes from the Duchy of Cornwall, a portfolio of land and property valued at approximately £1.1 billion. Established in 1337 by Edward III, the Duchy funds the public, charitable, and private activities of the Prince of Wales and his family. William inherited it from his father, King Charles III, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
The Duchy manages over 52,000 hectares of land across 19 English counties. In 2025, it provided William a net distributable surplus of £22.9 million. In May 2026, the Duchy announced plans to sell 20 percent of its property over the next decade, reinvesting £500 million into affordable housing and environmental projects. William stated, "We're not the traditional landowner… we want to be more than that. There is so much good we can do. I'm trying to make sure I'm prioritising stuff that's going to make people's lives, living in those areas, better."
William and Prince Harry inherited nearly £13 million equally from their mother, Princess Diana's estate, held in trust until they came of age, along with valuable jewelry. The Queen Mother left an estimated £14 million to her great-grandsons in 2002, with the majority reportedly set aside for Harry, as William will benefit financially from becoming king. During his military career, William earned an annual salary of around £45,000 to £50,000. As a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, he earned £62,000, which he donated to charity. His official travel and household expenses are funded by the Sovereign Grant, which totaled £86.3 million for the Royal Family in the 2024–25 financial year—equivalent to £1.29 per person in the UK.
Inner Circle of Friends
Prince William's private life includes a tight-knit group of friends, many from his school days at Eton College and St Andrews University. A lifelong Aston Villa supporter, he often attends matches with his mates. Key friends include William van Cutsem, whose family has long ties to the royals; Hugh van Cutsem, whose daughter Grace was a bridesmaid at William's wedding; James Meade, who co-delivered a best man's speech and is godfather to Princess Charlotte; Thomas van Straubenzee, an usher at the royal wedding and another godparent to Charlotte; Oliver Baker, a godfather to Prince George; Guy Pelly, who arranged William's stag do and is godfather to Prince Louis; and Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, at whose wedding William served as an usher. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, former private secretary to William and Harry, is also a godfather to Prince George.
Dietary Habits
William maintains a disciplined yet relatable diet. During a 2022 visit to a community garden in Newquay with nutritionist Monique Hyland, he outlined his daily eating habits. Breakfast consists of two eggs, wholemeal toast with butter, apple juice, and a cup of tea—he drinks multiple cups daily with milk and sugar, joking that caffeine helps with sleepless nights due to his children. On weekends, he enjoys cooking a traditional English breakfast with sausage, bacon, and eggs. Lunch is often a "rubbish sandwich" with water due to his busy schedule. Dinner favorites include roast chicken cooked by Kate, white fish, Italian classics, and mac and cheese from childhood. He also enjoys takeaways like Nando's, with security ordering on his behalf, and mild Indian food—Kate jokes he "struggles" with spices. His ultimate indulgence is chocolate biscuit cake, which he requested alongside the official wedding cake in 2011.
Exercise Routine
William follows an 11-minute equipment-free exercise routine developed by the Royal Canadian Air Force, targeting the entire body. It includes two minutes of stretches, one minute of sit-ups, one minute of back and leg raises, one minute of push-ups, and six minutes of running on the spot with ten eagle jumps every 75 steps. He is also an avid runner, spotted jogging in Central Park during a 2023 official tour, and enjoys polo and swimming.
Personality and Family Life
William is known for his warm and down-to-earth demeanor at public events, especially when cheering on Aston Villa. Behind the scenes, aides describe him as "pretty demanding" and ambitious, with a mix of approachable warmth, quiet authority, intense focus, and a witty sense of humor. His rumored short fuse was highlighted in Prince Harry's 2023 memoir, Spare, detailing altercations between the brothers. Palace insiders stress that William is generally respectful to staff. His devotion to family is evident, particularly supporting Kate through her cancer diagnosis, and he prioritizes giving George, Charlotte, and Louis as normal an upbringing as possible.
Fractured Relationship with Prince Harry
The state of the brothers' relationship remains a major topic, especially with Prince Harry scheduled to visit the UK next month for the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. Harry, Meghan, and their children Archie and Lilibet will be on British soil together for the first time in four years. While King Charles is eager to see his grandchildren, whom he has not seen since 2022, there are no plans for William to meet Harry. The brothers have not spoken since the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August 2024, where they kept their distance. Communication is reportedly non-existent, with William deciding to "cut ties" after Harry's public grievances, including the Oprah interview and Spare. William is said not to trust Harry or Meghan due to their past media interactions. Royal commentator Afua Acheampong-Hagan told The Mirror, "Probably not yet, I don't think they are there yet. I do think it will happen, but I don't think it will happen yet. I think it's baby steps. But they might shock us, they might surprise us. I don't think we will see William and Harry hand in hand skipping down the Mall, but you never know. I genuinely think not yet, but it will happen."
