Royals
Prince William 40th Birthday Celebrations Include A New £5 Coin
And a party, obvs.
2022 may be all about the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – 70 years on the throne is no mean feat – but Jun. 21 also marks a significant milestone in Prince William’s life: his 40th turn around the sun. With his birthday falling in such a celebratory month for the Queen, we cannot help but wonder what’s in store for her grandson, second in line to the throne.
To start things off, the Duke’s birthday will be celebrated with a new £5 coin. Announced by the Royal Mint, the coin will feature a prominent portrait of William based on a photograph taken at the Queen’s birthday party in June 2018. Engraved by Thomas T Docherty, the three-quarter profile of the prince will be accompanied by the number 40 to his left, his royal cipher on the right, and an inscription of “HRH The Duke of Cambridge”. Queen Elizabeth II will be engraved by Jody Clark on the other side.
Clare Maclennan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, says the design “pays homage to the maturity and grace of the Prince who has become a senior member of the Royal family, a devoted husband and a loving father of three,” per The Telegraph.
Birthdays in the royal family tend to be occasions where they celebrate and give glimpses of the things they get up to, and reports have suggested that a “big party” is on the cards for the Duke of Cambridge. Royal expert Christopher Andersen says something special is brewing, as per Us Weekly he claimed: “The Queen has a big thing planned for William and he is going to throw something as well.”
When the Duchess of Cambridge celebrated the big 40 in January, Prince William and their children reportedly helped to throw her a “low key” party, with the children picking their favourite photos of their mum as a special gift.
It’s yet to be revealed if the same will be done for Prince William, although it may pull on a few heartstrings. Whatever the Duke has planned for his 40th birthday, we know he will be in good hands since the Duchess’ mother, Carole Middleton, is an expert party planner.
