Unlike his father and grandmother, he has grown up in an age that openly questions his family's role and the resulting adversity has led the young Prince to seek increasing privacy.

A living reminder to us all of Diana's beauty, William's looks have heightened the public interest. At Eton, he sat three A-levels and took part in sports like rugby, football and swimming.

He is now at St Andrews University in northeast Scotland where he is reading art history.

In bringing up the heir to the throne to follow as normal a life as possible, it appears that the monarchy are witnessing the emergence of a balanced individual with common foibles.

Such was his family's insistence on finding an isolated location for William's education that it seems to have led to his loneliness and depression. Like those around him, William is evidently keen to enjoy life before the weight of responsibility suffocates his curiosity.