The name ‘William’ comes from a warrior who was crowned king on Christmas. Known as ‘William the Conqueror,’ he won the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Historian and author of “Battle of the Brothers,” Robert Lacey, writes that William built “formidable stone castles — notably the fortress overlooking the River Thames at Windsor, from which Britain’s modern royal family have taken their name and where the Queen now spends much of her time” (via People).
Lacey adds that Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana, knew that her son lived up to the legacy of his namesake even during his childhood. “‘He’s obviously going to be a great King,’ Diana would tell Simone Simmons, her confidante. Diana would say this when she watched William organize soccer in the gardens of their home at Kensington Palace, or while he would work around having midnight feasts during a sleepover with his friends. “‘Look how they’re drawn to him! He’s a born leader,” Lacey writes of Diana talking about William. Per Marie Claire, Diana was also told to choose a name that would go well with “King,” knowing her child would be the future heir to the throne.
Clearly, William has so much to live up to with his name, and so far, he’s doing just fine. For instance, his Earthshot Prize aims to solve some of the world’s most challenging environmental problems — a step only a thoughtful future king would take. Diana certainly wasn’t wrong!
