Prince William's Hottest Photos Over the Years

For anyone who has been following the royal family for decades, Prince William has grown up before the public’s eyes. His tiny debut as the second in line to the throne began on the steps of St. Mary’s Hospital in London on June 21, 1982, with Princess Diana proudly (but shyly) sharing her firstborn child with the world as Prince Charles adoringly looked on. The new dad quipped to the press at the time, “He has the good fortune not to look like me,” per People.

Over the years, the Duke of Cambridge became a teen heartthrob and many young adults rushed to get their applications in at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland when they heard he would be attending. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to date a prince? But of course, he met his match in Kate Middleton, who won his heart over pretty quickly — even if they started as just friends.

Recently, a study was conducted, per Pubity, that claimed William was “declared the sexiest man alive,” specifically named the “sexiest bald man of the year.”

In honor of that, let’s take a look back at all of his hottest moments as a royal — from a student to a father. He’s a military man, an avid sports enthusiast, and he knows how to charm women of all ages during official visits. And as he reminded us all with his bicep-flashing vaccine photo earlier this year, the man is a verified hunk.

The Duke of Cambridge has come into his own as a senior royal and he’s now embracing the role that has been laid out for him since the moment he was born. Check out these sexy snaps from his last year at Eton College to the family man he is today, and let your thirst for the elder royal brother wash over you.

A version of this article was originally published in June 2021.

Last Year at Eton College (2000)
It’s hard to believe Prince William was just learning how to use a computer (new technology!) in the final year at his all-boys boarding school, Eton College. He didn’t have one in his dorm room yet, but had to use one of four communal desktops in the headmaster’s house.
Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates The 50th Anniversary of Her Coronation (2003)
Prince William is quite close to his legendary grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and he excitedly celebrated the 50th anniversary of her coronation.
Family Skiing Holiday (2004)
Prince William is known for many things, including his love for skiing. He’s been skiing for decades, as seen with his papa in 2004. He and Kate Middleton have also taken his kids skiing since they both are obsessed with it, per Hello Magazine.
Studying at St Andrews University (2004)
During his time at St. Andrews University, Prince William originally enrolled to study Art History but quickly changed it to Geography, per Hello.
Prince William Kept Life Private at University (2004)
The teen heartthrob was the apple of everyone’s eye. Everyone, from the paparazzi to his fellow classmates, wanted to know more about Prince William. According to Hello! Magazine, William’s University friends would use the code name “Steve” when referring to him to avoid unwanted attention.
A Royal Surfer (2004)
Prince William loves the great outdoors and everything to do with hands-on activities. According to Reader’s Digest, he’s an avid surfer and has been to multiple surfing charity events over the years.
Queen Elizabeth Attends His St. Andrews University Graduation (2005)
After taking a gap year, Prince William went to college at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, which saw a 44% rise in applications after they knew the royal was attending.
Soft Spot for Children (2005)
Prince William has always had a soft spot for children. Like his mother Princess Diana, he frequently visits children’s hospitals to see the children in need.
Honoring His Mother’s Legacy (2007)
Prince William and Prince Harry organized a 10th anniversary memorial for their mother, Princess Diana, at the Guards’ Chapel in London. They will again honor her legacy with a commissioned statue unveiling on July 1, 2021.
Showing Off His Skills (2008)
It’s no secret that Prince William is an Aston Villa football fan (soccer to those of us in the U.S.), so sharing his love of the game with students at St. Aidans primary school in Blackburn was no surprise. He’s now president of The Football Association, and we’ve even seen Prince George at a few matches.
Following the Royal Legacy (2008)
Military careers are very common in the royal family and Prince William served in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. This was a training session for his two-month attachment with the Royal Navy at Britannia Royal Naval College in 2008.
The Engagement We Were All Waiting For (2010)
The couple got engaged in Kenya in October 2010, but waited until November to make the official announcement. They posed for the media at St. James’s Palace in London with Prince William looking lovingly at his future bride, Kate Middleton.
When the Queen Makes a Royal Air Force Visit (2011)
Queen Elizabeth was a proud grandmother when she made an official visit to the Royal Air Force while Prince Wiliam was serving. He was on active duty as a flight lieutenant, and then as a helicopter pilot from 2009 until 2013.
That First Public Kiss (2011)
Prince William and Kate shared a smooch on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after their wedding in London, England, on Friday, April 29, 2011. It was a fairy-tale day for the couple as the entire world watched them get married.
Sharp-Dressed Man (2011)
Shortly after their wedding, Prince William and Kate enjoyed a U.S. tour that included a fancy night out on the town at the BAFTA Brits to Watch dinner in Los Angeles. A prince always looks good in a tux and his bride looked stunning in a lavender evening gown accented with a sparkling silver belt.
Bring Your Dad to Work Day (2012)
Prince William followed in father Prince Charles’ Royal Air Force footsteps. The Prince of Wales was on active duty from 1971-1976, where he was a commander and flight lieutenant.
He’s Not a Doctor (2013)
Prince William does have an interest in medicine as the president of the Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust. In his charitable work, he was able to observe a breast reconstruction surgery on a patient to see how the NHS is helping U.K. citizens.
He Knows His Way Around the Kitchen (2013)
We don’t know how good his cooking skills are in real life, but he made lots of friends at a support center for homeless teens. If his recipe didn’t turn out the way he wanted that day, he certainly charmed those working with him in the kitchen.
Wowing His Fans (2014)
It doesn’t get any cuter than three-year-old twins Lola and Milly Barnett looking in awe at Prince William. They hung onto his every word during a wreath-laying ceremony in Blenheim, New Zealand.
His Most Competitive Sport (2014)
Prince William is known as a “defensive” and “controlled” polo player, according to Hello. Polo is known as the “sport of kings,” so the field is the perfect place for the Duke of Cambridge to hone his monarchy skills.
Trooping of the Colour (2015)
The Trooping of the Colour honors the Queen’s birthday every year, but 2013 was a special year. Not only did Prince George steal the show, but the royals also proudly dressed in their military uniforms and watched the Royal Air Force flow over Buckingham Palace.
The Brothers United (2018)
Despite the current family feud, this photo shows a happier time in the royal family as the brothers came together on Prince Harry’s wedding day to Meghan Markle. They both look sharp in their uniforms as they make their way to Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
Western Wall (2018)
Prince William looked quite handsome when he visited the Western Wall, which has been deemed the holiest site in Jerusalem’s old city. During the momentous trip, he went to the Western Wall to pray for world peace and was able to visit his great-grandmother Princess Alice of Battenberg on the Mount of Olives’ grave.
Honoring Tradition (2019)
If there’s one thing that comes with his senior royal role, it’s honoring traditions of the monarchy. On June 17, 2019, Dutch, Spanish and British royals gathered for the Garter service, the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
It’s Not Wimbledon without a Royal Visit (2019)
The Royal Box at Wimbledon has been around since 1922 and can hold up to 74 guests and dress code is described as “smart,” per the official event website. Prince William last attended in 2019 when he watched the men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Ushering in the First Day of School (2019)
There’s nothing sweeter than mom and dad taking the kids to their first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea Prep School in London. Prince George and Prince Charlotte got the best escorts to kick of a brand new school year in 2019.
It’s Not All Fun and Games (2020)
Prince William got to kick back and have some fun with Kate after speaking to small business owners in the tourism industry, who were affected by the pandemic. After the visit, the couple played a competitive round of carnival games on Barry Island in South Wales.
BAFTA Red Carpet (2020)
Like his gorgeous wife Kate Middleton, Prince William always arrives in style, often rocking sleek looks for red carpet events. He looked particularly dashing at the 2020 BAFTAs.
Holiday Family Photo (2020)
Prince William is second in line for the throne, but he’s like every dad posing for their annual Christmas card in the fall. With three beautiful children, Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3, and a stunning wife, he has a true storybook life.
Meeting with World Leaders (2021)
While they are supposed to stay neutral when it comes to politics, the royals do take the time to greet world leaders like they recently did at the G7 summit. Prince William and Kate enjoyed the company of President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade (2022)
Prince William looked quite regal during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2022. Back in 2016, during the same parade celebration, he broke royal protocol by handing out gifts, per GoodtoKnow. This century-long tradition was usually done by female royals, but like his mother Princess Diana, William wanted to do it his way to help people.
Casual Wear on Caribbean Tour (2022)
When the royals wear casualwear, they always look so good. During their Caribbean tour in 2022, Prince William and Kate Middleton looked like something out of an action movie while sightseeing throughout Belieze.
A Passionate Platinum Jubilee Speech (2022)
Prince William was full of pride and passion when he was delivering his speech at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We loved his loving speech to his grandmother, discussing how they share a love for the environment and optimism.