CELEBRITY
Prince William Receives Rare Honor on His 42nd Birthday at His Royal Wedding Venue
The Prince of Wales also starred in a newly released portrait with his kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
Westminster Abbey is ringing in Prince William’s 42nd birthday — literally!
The Prince of Wales turned 42 on June 21, and the milestone was marked with the ringing of the bells at Westminster Abbey, where the future monarch married Kate Middleton in 2011.
“Wishing the Prince of Wales a very happy birthday today!” the London landmark wrote on social media with a photo of Prince William attending the Commonwealth Day service in March. “We’ll be ringing the Abbey bells at 1 pm to celebrate.”
Before 2020, the bells marked 12 royal birthdays. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their four children — then now-King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward— all received the honor, as did Charles’ wife, Camilla. Prince William, Princess Kate and their three kids — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — completed the list.
When Westminster Abbey announced their bell-ringing schedule for 2022, it was revealed that the bells would only mark the birthdays of Queen Elizabeth and Charles.
Following Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, Westminster Abbey again changed whose birthdays would be marked with the bells, and the list now consists of just King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate.
The London church also rings its bells for other royal occasions, including the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death and King Charles’ accession in September.