COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

Prince William
18th Birthday

Issue Date: June 2000







Prince William, the elder son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was born in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in London on 21st June 1982 and was later christened William Arthur Philip Louis by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

In September 1985, at the age of 3 years, the Prince began his education at Mrs Mynor's Nursery School in West London proceeding to Wetherby School, also in London, in January 1987. He remained at Wetherby until July 1990 and in the following September became a pupil at Ludgrove School where he stayed until July 1995. He is currently at Eton College where, having achieved 12 GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education) he is studying A level Geography, Biology and the History of Art.

William is also an accomplished athlete who prefers football, rugby, tennis, swimming and water polo. Whilst at Ludgrove he became rugby and hockey team captain and also ran for the school in cross-country races. He also enjoys shooting and was Ludgrove's clay pigeon champion in 1994. Other preferred pastimes include acting in school plays, reading and film going.

Prince William's first public appearance was at the age of 8 during a visit to Wales when he attended a St David's Day service in Llandaff Cathedral. On the 50th Anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) in May 1995 Prince William accompanied his parents to the celebrations in Hyde Park. In August of the same year he also attended with his family the VJ (Victory over Japan) commemorations in the Mall and in front of Buckingham Palace.

Following his mother's tragic death he attended her funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6th September 1997 and two months later he was present in the Abbey again for the service of thanksgiving for the Golden Wedding of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Although William is second in line of succession to the Throne he does not yet carry out any public engagements in his own right.

We congratulate Prince William on the occasion of his eighteenth birthday and add our best wishes for the future.



Details of the photographs used to create this issue are as follows :-

50p Prince William playing in the garden at his home, Highgrove, June 1986. He was wearing a cut down full sized uniform given to him as a Christmas present in 1985 by the 1st Batallion of the Parachute Regiment, of which Prince Charles is Colonel in Chief. The stripes on the uniform show him as a corporal.

25p Prince William arrives at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, at the start of his Easter skiing holiday at Lech, Austria with his mother, 23 March 1994.

30p Prince William on a half-term skiing holiday at Klosters, Switzerland, with his father 19 February 1994.

35p Prince William at Kensington Palace, London 5 September 1997. The background shows Prince William at Highgrove Gloucestershire 26 July 1999.

40p Prince William waves at the crowds before entering the Greek cathedral of St Sophia in London for the christening of his 6 month old godson Konstantine Alexios, son of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince and Princess Pavlos of Greece 15 April 1999. William was one of 8 godparents, following in the footsteps of his father, who also became a godfather at 16.

The sheetlet background: Prince William at Polvier by the River Dee, Balmoral Estate, Scotland with his dog Widgeon 12 August 1997.



Technical Details

Designer: Andrew Robinson
Photographs: Tim Graham Picture Library
Printer: The House of Questa
Process: Lithography
Stamp Size: 30.56 x 35mm
S/S Size: 175 x 95mm
Stamp Format: Various
Set: 50 (2x25) - 4 values, 5 Values Within Sheetlets
Perforation Gauge: 14 per 2cms
Paper: CA Watermarked
Release Date: 21.06.00
Values: 10p, 20p, 37p, 43p, Sheet Stamps, Also 50p in Sheetlet





Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited