Before the current heir to the throne, there was a dashing, brave, and handsome Prince William, but he was never meant to be King. Prince William of Gloucester, who lived life in the fast lane and never expected to wear the crown, died young at the age of 30.
On one tragic summer day in 1972, the royal lost his life in a horrific plane crash, leaving behind a grieving family, a shattered fiancée, and a story. Today's William is calm, dutiful, and born to wear the crown.
He found his happy ending with Kate Middleton, a love story the whole world celebrated. Both Princes share the same name, the same royal blood, and the same handsome smile, but their stories could not be more different.
One Prince William is the future King and the most loved royal in the world today; he is the proud father of George, Charlotte, and Louis. The other Prince William died in his prime, his love story left unfinished, and his life cut tragically short.
He lived life differently - fearless and free. Famous for his independent spirit, the late prince was reportedly adored by his second cousin King Charles III and is believed to be the Prince of Wales' namesake.
He was the oldest son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who was the third son of King George V. Henry's older brother Edward reigned as King Edward VIII until his abdication, upon which his brother Albert was crowned King George VI.
When he was born, William was fourth in line to the throne and the first cousin of Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth. He welcomed a younger brother, Prince Richard, in 1944.
After studying abroad, William joined the Commonwealth Office and was sent to Lagos and then Tokyo. But his father's health became critical after several strokes in 1970, and William resigned to take charge of the estate and carry out royal duties on his father's behalf.
As per Hello, while William never married, he fell in love with Hungarian model Zsuzsi Starkloff, whom he met in Tokyo. Sadly, the two faced controversy similar to that surrounding her uncle King Edward VIII's relationship with Wallis Simpson.
The legacy of the late Prince William remains a poignant reminder of the fragility of life within the British monarchy. While the current Prince William prepares for his future role as King, the memory of his namesake continues to be honored by the family.
His life serves as a testament to the path not taken, a prince who chose to explore the world before duty called him back home to his family's responsibilities.