It’s highly unlikely Prince William will be indulging in a birthday cake today quite like the cheeky one his late mum organised for his 13th birthday.
Today William celebrates his 44th birthday, marking his fourth since his father, King Charles, bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Wales following the late Queen’s passing in 2022. His wife, the Princess of Wales, has likely prepared a thoughtful present and perhaps even a cake to commemorate the occasion.
However, it’s unlikely to resemble anything like the one his late mother arranged for him when he turned 13, precisely 31 years ago, which reportedly left him utterly mortified.
View 4 ImagesPrincess Diana surprised William with a risqué birthday cake for this 13th birthday (Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
It transpires that when William finally reached his teenage years, his mum, Princess Diana, couldn’t help playing a mischievous prank on her son by commissioning a rather risqué birthday cake.
Rather than choosing a traditional Victoria sponge or caterpillar cake, Diana had a confection created for William that caused him to turn ‘bright red’. His brother Harry, meanwhile, is reported to have adored the cake and even requested one for himself, according to The Daily Mail.
Former Buckingham Palace chef, Darren McGrady, revealed to Hello! magazine: “I came into work that morning and went down to the refrigerator, opened the door and I was just confronted with the biggest pair of boobs I’ve ever seen in my life. The Princess had ordered a boobs cake for William’s 13th birthday.
“The Princess loved embarrassing people in the nicest way, in a fun way, whether it was telling a dirty, risqué joke – which usually got me. William just went bright red.”
View 4 ImagesWilliam was presented with a cake depicting a pair of breasts (Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales entered the world as second in line to the throne at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, at 9.03pm on 21 June 1982. Weighing 7lb 11⁄2oz, he was the firstborn son of the then Prince and Princess of Wales.
At just nine months old, he broke with royal tradition when he accompanied his parents on a six-week official tour of Australia and New Zealand.
His mother Diana, who split from Charles in 1992, tragically lost her life in a car crash in Paris in 1997. William was just 15 and his brother Harry only 12 when the boys walked behind the princess’s coffin during a funeral procession through the streets of London.
View 4 ImagesPrince William is turning 44 today(Image: 2026 Max Mumby/Indigo)
William crossed paths with Kate Middleton while studying at St Andrews University in Fife, Scotland, and the couple tied the knot in 2011 following a romance spanning more than eight years. On the morning of his wedding, his grandmother the Queen bestowed upon him the title Duke of Cambridge.
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The couple welcomed their first child, George – himself a future king – in 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015 and Louis in 2018. Following the Queen’s passing in September 2022, William and Kate were elevated to the new Prince and Princess of Wales, with the King announcing their titles in his landmark address to the nation.
While the title Prince of Wales has long been traditionally bestowed upon heirs to the throne, as is now the case with William, it remains the sovereign’s personal choice to award it rather than an automatic right.