Prince William recently marked his 42nd birthday in a memorable way, celebrating at the very venue where he tied the knot with Kate Middleton back in 2011.
On June 21, the iconic bells of Westminster Abbey chimed to honor him, creating a festive atmosphere around this historic site.
The Abbey took to social media to share its tribute, posting a nostalgic photo from a Commonwealth Day service held in March, announcing, “We’ll be ringing the Abbey bells at 1pm to celebrate.”
This bell-ringing tradition isn’t new; it’s been a way to commemorate birthdays of various members of the royal family.
However, the practice saw a significant reduction during the financial strains brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before 2020, the Abbey’s bells rang out for 12 royal birthdays, including those of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and their four children—now King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
In addition to the previous royals, the bells also celebrated birthdays for Camilla, Prince William, and the trio of young royals: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
A shift occurred in 2022 when Westminster Abbey revised its schedule to only honor the birthdays of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, the list was updated yet again to include King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate.
Beyond birthdays, Westminster Abbey rings its bells for other significant royal events, such as the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death and King Charles’s accession to the throne.
This year, Prince William received an outpouring of birthday wishes from numerous charities he supports, alongside heartfelt messages from his family, who took to social media to celebrate him.
The royal family’s official Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts featured a throwback picture of Charles and William, showcasing their close bond.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a delightful new photo taken by Kate, showing William joyfully leaping in the air with their children.
The caption read, “Happy Birthday Papa, We all love you so much,” signed off with a “C” for Catherine and a sweet kiss mark.
Just a day before his birthday, William made a public appearance at Frankfurt Arena for the UEFA Euro 2024 group stage soccer match between England and Denmark.
As president of the Football Association, he showed his support for the English team by sporting a vibrant red, white, and blue tie.
Prior to the match, he engaged in conversation with King Frederick of Denmark, who recently ascended the throne, and even posed for a photo with Frederick’s daughter, Princess Josephine.
This charming moment was shared on William’s social media, accompanied by a friendly message: “May the best team win.” Kensington Palace had announced his attendance at the game just a week prior, following his visit with the team to wish them luck.
Since Kate’s cancer diagnosis in March, William has been a steadfast presence at soccer matches, cheering on his favorite team, Aston Villa.
William’s visit to Germany was just one highlight in a busy week for the royal family.
On June 15, he participated in the British Army’s Trooping the Colour parade, which celebrated King Charles’s official birthday.
This event was particularly special as it marked Princess Kate’s first public appearance in nearly six months since her diagnosis.
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