From the moment of his birth, Prince William has been in the public eye as the future King.
His challenging moments, such as the deaths of his grandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, along with the sudden death of his mom Princess Diana, have unfolded on the global stage.
Royal enthusiasts have also shared in his joyous occasions, like his 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton and the births of his three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis.
However, there was a period when William, who is celebrating his 43rd birthday today, sought to evade the limelight by taking an unconventional route to maintain a low profile.
During his tenure at St Andrew’s University, there was considerable speculation about the young prince and his studies, even though much of the media agreed he should be allowed to complete his university education in Scotland undisturbed, reports the Mirror.
To avoid unwanted attention, it’s reported that William adopted an exceptionally ordinary alias during his university years – Steve.
While William was registered at the school under his official Royal name, it’s believed that his classmates frequently used the pseudonym to deflect any unwelcome attention from the young Royal.
Given that William and Kate were close friends at university and lived in the same student housing, it’s likely that his now wife also used the pseudonym.
Prince William began his higher education journey at St Andrew’s majoring in the history of art, but soon decided to switch his focus to geography, graduating in 2005 alongside his future wife, Kate.
The commencement ceremony was a Royal affair, with attendance by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, plus his father King Charles and Camilla, now Queen Consort.
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Fast forward to today, having been married for 14 years, William and Kate joyfully raise three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Nicknames are a common thread in this Royal household, with both William and Kate bestowing affectionate alternate names upon Princess Charlotte. The endearing nickname came to light during a family outing to the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.
In footage capturing a precious family moment, the Royal siblings were seen frolicking amidst the blooms, while at one moment, Prince William can be heard calling not for Charlotte, but for ‘Mignonette’. This French term translates to “small, sweet, and delicate” or simply “cute,” with historical definitions indicating gentility and kindness.
Contrastingly, Kate is known to use a more conventional nickname for her daughter: ‘Lottie.’