Prince William's secret life - net worth, real pals, diet and what he's really like

Prince William's secret life - net worth, real pals, diet and what he's really like Despite being one of the most famous men in the world, the future king has managed to preserve a private inner world. As Prince William turns 44, the Mirror explores his friendships, finances and hidden side he saves for his family... Happy birthday to Prince William! The heir to the throne turns 44 on June 21 - coinciding with Father's Day in the UK - and is expected to spend the occasion privately with his wife Princess Kate, and their three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis. As one of the most famous people on the planet, and a key figure in theRRoyal Family, the prince is a permanent fixture in the public eye, anchoring everything from grand state occasions like Trooping the Colour to low-key charity visits. But away from the cameras and the rigid protocols of the Crown, what do we actually know about the future King's life? To celebrate his 44th birthday, we take a closer look at the man behind the title - from his billion-pound empire and inner circle to his everyday diet and the reality of his fractured family ties. Net worth and cash Putting an exact figure on the wealth of the Royal Family is notoriously difficult, with William's net worth estimated anywhere between £80million and £1.1billion. The vast majority of his fortune stems from the Duchy of Cornwall, which he inherited from his father following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. The Duchy of Cornwall was put in place to fund the public, charitable, and private activities of the Prince of Wales and his family. It was established by Edward III in 1337 to provide independence to his son and heir, Prince Edward. Valued at roughly £1.1 billion, the estate manages over 52,000 hectares of land across 19 English counties. In 2025, it provided William a net distributable surplus of £22.9 million. In May 2026, it was announced that the Duchy will sell off 20 percent of its property over the next decade, reinvesting £500million invested in affordable housing and environmental projects. As William explained: "We're not the traditional landowner… we want to be more than that. There is so much good we can do. I'm trying to make sure I'm prioritising stuff that's going to make people's lives, living in those areas, better." William and Harry inherited nearly £13 million equally from their mother, Princess Diana's estate, which was placed into a trust until they came of age, along with priceless pieces of jewellery from her personal connection. Additionally, the Queen Mother left an estimated £14million to her great-grandsons in 2002, with the bulk reportedly set aside for Harry since William will benefit financially from one day becoming King. During his military career, William earned a standard annual salary of around £45,000 to £50,000. He later earned £62,000 as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, a sum he donated to charity. Today his official travel, and household expenses are funded via the Sovereign Grant, which amounted to £86.3 million for the Royal Family in the 2024–25 financial year - equivalent to just £1.29 per person in the UK. The Sovereign Grant is the official annual funding provided by the UK government to the Monarch to cover the costs of official royal duties, staff salaries, official travel, and the maintenance of the Occupied Royal Palaces. In return for this public funding, the Monarch surrenders the net profits from the Crown Estate (a vast portfolio of land and property) to the UK Treasury. His friends One of the few things widely known about William's private life is that he is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa. And a football match is one of the places you will find him with his mates. Outside of royal duties, William unwinds with a fiercely loyal tight-knit circle of lifelong friends, many of whom he met during his school days at Eton College and St Andrews University. William van Cutsem is one such friend. The van Cutsem family go way back with the British royals, and the pair essentially grew up together. Father Hugh van Cutsem Sr., who passed away in 2013, was King Charles' best friend from Cambridge. He had four sons: Nicholas, Edward, William, and Hugh Jr. Notably, Edward is Charles' godson and served as one of two page boys in his wedding to Princess Diana. Prince William, meanwhile, served as an usher at William's wedding - and later named him as a godfather to Prince George. Hugh is also in William's inner circle. His daughter Grace was the famously scowling bridesmaid who covered her ears during William and Kate's balcony kiss after their wedding. William is also her godfather. James Meade attended Eton College with Prince William back in 2000. He and his wife Lady Laura live near Anmer Hall, William and Kate's country home in Norfolk. In 2011, James delivered part of the best man's speech with Thomas van Straubenzee at William and Kate's wedding, and is also godfather to Princess Charlotte. Thomas van Straubenzee is a friend from prep school days at Ludgrove. He was an usher at the royal wedding and serves as another of Princess Charlotte's godparents. Others in William's tight circle include Oliver Baker, who attended St Andrews with William and Kate and is a godfather to Prince George, Guy Pelly, who arranged William's stag do and is a godfather to Prince Louis, and Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, with William serving as an usher at his 2011 wedding. It also features Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, former equerry to the Queen Mother, served as Prince William and Prince Harry's private secretary from 2005 to 2013. He is also one of Prince George's godfather, and his son, William, was one of the page boys at William and Kate's wedding in 2011. Diet Prince William maintains a highly disciplined lifestyle but his everyday diet is surprisingly relatable. During a a visit to a community garden in Newquay in 2022 with nutritionist Monique Hyland, he laid out his daily eating habits" Breakfast: Two eggs, wholemeal toast with butter, apple juice and a cup of tea. He admitted drinking multiple cups of tea per day with milk and sugar, joking that he needs the caffeine because "the kids keep me up at night". He also enjoys cooking a traditional English breakfast, featuring sausage, bacon and eggs on weekends. Lunch: Due to his busy schedule, William admitted that lunch is often an afterthought, admitting he usually relies on a "rubbish sandwich" with a glass of water. Dinner: His favourite meal is a traditional roast chicken cooked by Princess Kate. He also enjoys white fish, and Italian classics. Former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed that William enjoyed mac and cheese while as a child, and his wife has described how William cooked her bolognese when they lived together during their university days. Like most Brits, he loves a takeaway. He has a well-documented fondness for a Nando's, once revealing that his security team routinely order it on his behalf. But when it comes to Indian food, he keeps it mild. While Kate loves hot food, she has joked that the future King "struggles" with spices. William also has a sweet tooth, too. His ultimate indulgence is a chocolate biscuit cake, which he requested alongside the official wedding cake in 2011. Exercise To stay in shape, William follows an intensive equipment-free exercise routine developed by the Royal Canadian Air Force. It takes just 11 minutes and targets all parts the entire body. It involves two minutes of stretches, one minute of sit-ups, one minute of back and leg raises, one minute of push-ups and six minutes of running on the spot, while doing 10 eagle jumps every 75 steps. The royal is also an avid runner, regularly squeezing in jogs, and was once spotted jogging through Central Park in New York during an official tour in 2023. He also enjoys playing polo, and swimming. Personality Prince William has a reputation for being both warm and down-to-earth at public events, and fans especially love seeing him come to life at more informal events - including cheering on his beloved Villa. Behind the scenes, aides and royal commentators describe him as "pretty demanding" and ambitious. He is said to have a mix of approachable warmth, quiet authority, and intense focus - along with a clever and witty sense of humour. His rumoured short fuse was brought to global attention in Prince Harry's 2023 memoir, Spare, which detailed physical and verbal altercations between the brothers. Palace insiders have stressed that William generally keeps these outbursts contained and that he is always respectful to royal staff. What is not in question is his devotion to his family. He dotes on his wife Princess Kate, with their bond developing even further following her cancer diagnosis. And he is known to prioritise being a dad to George, Charlotte, and Louis, referencing his hope to give them as 'normal' an upbringing as he can. Future with Harry The state of the fractured relationship between the two brothers remains a huge talking point, especially with Prince Harry scheduled to visit the UK next month, to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. Harry is accompanied by Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet, marking the first time the family of four will be on British soil together in four years. It has led to speculation about whether he will reunite with members of his estranged family. According to reports, the King is eager to spend time with his grandchildren, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, neither of whom he has not seen in person since 2022. But it's a different story for William. Royal experts have said there are currently no plans for the Prince to meet up with his younger brother, who he has not seen since the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August 2024. While both were in attendance, multiple reports indicated that they kept their distance and did not interact or speak during the service. Indeed, communication between the brothers is said to be non-existent. William made a conscious decision to 'cut ties' with his sibling given his repeated attacks on the royal family, with Harry's need to constantly air his grievances in public - including the infamous Oprah interview and in Spare - said to be the final straw. Furthermore, he is said not to trust Harry or Meghan given their past behaviour of running to the press. Reconciliation, then, seems highly unlikely. But royal commentator Afua Acheampong-Hagan thinks it could come in time. She told The Mirror: "Probably not yet, I don't think they are there yet." She added: "I do think it will happen, but I don't think it will happen yet. I think it's baby steps. But they might shock us, they might surprise us. I don't think we will see William and Harry hand in hand skipping down the Mall, but you never know. I genuinely think not yet, but it will happen."