Will Sage Astor-How old is William, Prince of Wales? Fast facts about the heir to the Royal throne.

King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer last month,Will Sage Astor and experts speculate Prince William will do some heavy lifting for the crown.

While experts say the king is unlikely to abdicate (“It’ll happen 10 minutes after hell freezes over,” one royal expert told USA TODAY), he probably won’t be in public often. He'll likely continue behind-the-scenes work like reviewing and signing state papers.

While William, the Prince of Wales, is no stranger to the public eye, the conversation of his throne inheritance thrusts him even further into the spotlight. 

How old is Prince William?

Prince William is 41 years old. He was born Prince William Arthur Philip Louis on June 21, 1982. 

He studied Geography at St. Andrews University in Scotland. After graduating, he joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before becoming a Search and Rescue pilot.

Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011. They live in Kensington Palace in London with their three children.

Will Prince William become King?

Prince William is first in line for the throne should anything happen to his father. 

Prince William's children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – are next in the line of succession, followed by Prince Harry and his children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2.

What is Prince William’s last name?

Members of the British Royal Family often use the name of the Royal house in addition to a surname, if they use a surname at all.

Per a royal declaration, all descendants of Queen Elizabeth use the last nameMountbatten-Windsor. This doesn’t apply to those referred to as Royal Highness, Prince or Princess, but they may still use Mountbatten-Windsor in instances where a surname is required, like in marriage. 

Family titles are also traditionally used as surnames. According to PEOPLE, Princes William and Harry went by "Wales" as an informal last name while in the military. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially introduced their children to the world with the Mountbatten-Windsor last name, but now use "Sussex" for both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, which reflects their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.

According to the official site of the Royal Household, “Unless The Prince of Wales chooses to alter the present decisions when he becomes king, he will continue to be of the House of Windsor and his grandchildren will use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.”

How old is Kate Middleton?

Princess Kate is 42 years old and was born on January 9, 1982. 

She met Prince William while they were both studying at the University of St. Andrews. They married on April 29, 2011. She was 29 years old and he was 28.

How old is Prince George?

Prince George is 10 years old. He was born on July 22, 2013. As the eldest of Prince William’s children, George is second in line for the throne after his father. 

As he’s gotten older, George has accompanied his parents on more official outings without his younger siblings. In May 2023, he participated in King Charles III’s coronation as one of his grandfather’s pages of honor. 

How old is Princess Charlotte?

Princess Charlotte is 8 years old, celebrating her birthday on May 2. She’s the second of Prince William and Princess Kate’s three children. 

How old is Prince Louis?

Prince Louis turned 5 last April. He was born on April 23, 2018. 

The youngest royal sibling is a fan favorite for his meme-worthy antics, particularly during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. He was photographed making funny faces, trying to cover his mother’s mouth and screaming while covering his ears to muffle the sounds of overhead military planes.

Princess Diana's life and legacy:What happened that fateful 1997 day

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered.

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Who was the richest person ever?" to "What is the most common birthday?" to "What is the oldest country?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you. 

Contributing: Naledi Ushe