King Charles III
111-497: [REDACTED] William, Prince of Wales [REDACTED] Charles III ( King-in-Council ) [REDACTED] Starmer ministry ( L ) Keir Starmer ( L ) Angela Rayner ( L ) ( King-in-Parliament ) [REDACTED] Charles III [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Lord Reed The Lord Hodge Andrew Bailey Monetary Policy Committee His Majesty's Paymaster General or HM Paymaster General
222-555: A TED Talk on environmental protection and conservation as part of the TED Countdown climate change initiative. Later that month, William took over the patronages of Fauna and Flora International and the British Trust for Ornithology , passed on from his grandparents. In the same month, he appeared in an ITV documentary titled Prince William: A Planet For Us All to discuss environmental issues. In 2021 William made
333-400: A 'C' in biology, and a 'B' in history of art. William was captain of the swimming team and his house football team at Eton, also taking up water polo . The decision to place William at Eton went against the family tradition of sending royal children to Gordonstoun , which his father and grandfather both attended. Diana's brother and father were both Eton students. The royal family and
444-480: A charity that assists the homeless. In December 2009, as part of a Centrepoint-organised event, the prince spent the night in a sleeping bag near Blackfriars Bridge to raise awareness of the experiences of homeless youth. He opened their new facility, Apprenticeship House, in November 2019 to mark their 50th anniversary. William has been patron of homelessness charity The Passage since 2019 after first visiting
555-755: A desire to become Governor-General of Australia . In 2009 the Queen set up a private office for William and Harry with David Manning as their adviser. Manning accompanied William on his first official tour in January 2010 as the latter toured Auckland and Wellington ; William opened the new building of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and was welcomed by a Māori chief. The visit spurred crowds of "many thousands", with positive public reception compared to that of his mother's 1983 tour. In March 2011, William visited Christchurch , New Zealand, shortly after
666-559: A flat with Middleton and two other friends. The couple began dating in 2003. From 2003 to 2005 they both resided at Balgove House on the Strathtyrum estate with two roommates. In 2004 the couple briefly split but reconciled soon afterwards. The relationship was followed closely by the tabloid press. Media attention became so intense that William asked the press to keep their distance from Middleton. In December 2006, Middleton and her family attended William's passing out parade at
777-537: A forum for young people in Birmingham, alongside BBC Radio 1 and charity called The Mix, called Exploring our Emotional Worlds continuing their longstanding work to promote mental well-being. In May 2024, he announced a three-year funding package for the charity We Are Farming Minds to provide mental health support for farmers on the Duchy of Cornwall lands. In September 2005, William became patron of Centrepoint ,
888-641: A loved one. In 2016 the Royal Foundation launched multiple mental health initiatives, including Heads Together, a campaign led by William, Catherine and Harry to de-stigmatise mental health. Legacy programmes include Mental Health at Work, launched in September 2018 to change the approach to workplace mental health in the United Kingdom, as well as Heads Up, launched in May 2019 in partnership with
999-622: A man in the United States responsible for trafficking rhinoceros horns and elephant ivory. He had previously called for harsher punishments and penalties for poachers and smugglers at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in 2018. William has spoken out for LGBT rights as part of his work against cyberbullying , stating the importance of being "proud of the person you are" and discussing the effects of online abuse and discrimination. In 2016 he appeared in
1110-481: A man." While at Eton, he often had tea on weekends at the nearby Windsor Castle with his grandmother, discussing state boxes and constitutional duties meant to "prepare [him] as future King." In June 1991, William was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital after being accidentally hit on the forehead by a fellow pupil wielding a golf club. He suffered a depressed fracture of the skull and
1221-627: A military career, William was admitted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 2006; his admission was based on successfully completing a 44-week course as an Officer Cadet which led to his commission as a British Army officer. As "Lieutenant Wales" – a name based on his father's then title Prince of Wales – he followed his brother into the Blues and Royals in December that year as
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#17327656369331332-480: A private donation to the Thin Green Line Foundation, which provides grants for the relatives of conservation park rangers that are killed every year while protecting wildlife. In July 2022, he condemned the murder of South African park ranger Anton Mzimba and asked for the responsible parties to "be brought to justice". In August 2022, William voiced his support for the prison sentence given to
1443-585: A royal tour to New Zealand and Australia accompanied by their son George. In August that year, the couple and Prince Harry represented the royal family at World War I commemorations in Belgium. In December, the couple visited New York and Washington DC, where William made a speech at the World Bank condemning the illegal trade in wildlife. In 2015 and 2016 William embarked on various visits of Asian countries, including Japan, China, Bhutan and India; he
1554-560: A second lieutenant after which he spent five months training for the post at Bovington Camp in Dorset. Despite the Queen's approval for William to serve on the frontline, his position as second-in-line to the throne at the time cast doubts on his chances of seeing combat. Plans by the Ministry of Defence to send William to Southern Iraq leaked and the government eventually decided against sending him as it would endanger both his life and
1665-682: A single-day record of 124 million transactions at the end of November. Bacs' scope has expanded to include third-party services (such as the Cash ISA Transfer Service) and the development, management and ownership of the Current Account Switch Service, which began in September 2013. The guaranteed service has reduced the time it takes for consumers, small businesses, and small charities to switch current accounts to seven working days, and has facilitated over six million switches. On 1 May 2018, Bacs became
1776-614: A solo visit to Poland during which he visited Rzeszów to meet Polish and British troops and Ukrainian refugees, and had talks with Polish president Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace . In October 2023, William and Catherine condemned the Hamas-led attack on Israel . In February 2024, he visited the headquarters of the British Red Cross , where he met humanitarian aid workers supporting civilians during
1887-465: A statement as president of the FA, denouncing the "racist abuse... whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media" as "despicable" and stating that "we all have a responsibility" to create an environment of tolerance and accountability. In April 2021, William criticised the planned breakaway competition The Super League , adding that he "share[d] the concerns of fans about the proposed Super League and
1998-462: A total of £4.4 trillion, including 3.6 billion direct debits. The number of payments passing through the Bacs system topped six billion for the first time the following year, with a value of £4.6 trillion. The number of direct debits processed in 2015 increased by 239 million over the 2014 total. A record 103 million transactions were processed in a single July 2015 day. That year, it was announced that
2109-491: A visit to Llandaff on Saint David's Day in 1991. He and Harry travelled to Canada on an official visit with their parents in 1991 and again with Charles in 1998. William's parents divorced in 1996. Diana died in a car accident in the early hours of 31 August 1997. William, then aged 15, together with his 12-year-old brother and their father, was staying at Balmoral Castle at the time. The following morning, Charles informed William and Harry of their mother's death. William
2220-696: A vote-trading deal for the right to host the 2018 World Cup in England. The English delegation reported the suggestion to FIFA, considering it a violation of anti-collusion rules. In 2011 William, as president of the English FA, voted against Australia's 2022 FIFA bid and instead voted for South Korea, despite being Australia's future heir . In 2020 he voted against the joint Australia–New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup bid and instead voted for Colombia . In February 2021, following an investigation into racism directed at Marcus Rashford , William released
2331-565: A wedding gift from the Queen, where they lived from 2015 to 2017. Kensington Palace was the couple's main residence until 2022, when the family moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor . Catherine's first pregnancy was announced in December 2012. She was admitted on 22 July 2013 to the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London, where Prince William had been delivered. Later that day, she gave birth to Prince George . In September 2014, it
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#17327656369332442-561: A £40m drug seizure in the Atlantic, north-east of Barbados. He was part of the crew on the Lynx helicopter which helped seize 900 kg of cocaine from a speedboat. In January 2009, William transferred his commission to the RAF and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant . He trained to become a helicopter pilot with the RAF's Search and Rescue Force . As part of his training across all branches of
2553-876: Is a ministerial position in the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom . The position is currently held by Nick Thomas-Symonds of the Labour Party . The post was created in 1836 by the merger of the positions of the offices of the Paymaster of the Forces (1661–1836), the Treasurer of the Navy (1546–1835), the Paymaster and Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital (responsible for Army pensions ) (1681–1835) and
2664-401: Is an instruction from a customer to a bank (or building society ) to authorize a third party to collect an amount from an account, often for regular payments. Over 4.5 billion direct debits were processed in 2019. Bacs Direct Credit is a service which enables organizations of all sizes to make payments direct into a bank or building society account. There are more than 150,000 organizations in
2775-630: Is backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee, which promises to reimburse account holders if they incur fees or charges as a result of the switchover. The Cash ISA Transfer Service, introduced in October 2012, offers a quicker and easier transfer process while reducing paper flow and increasing efficiency. The Biller Update Service was introduced in June 2013. Bacs processed a record 5.8 billion transactions in 2014 for
2886-472: Is not a constitutional requirement and suggested that contemporary Wales would deem it unnecessary. Kensington Palace also stated an investiture is "not on the table". As the eldest son of the British monarch, William has inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, which brings him additional income. The duchy is "a £760 million (about US$ 1.25 billion) entity established in 1337" to provide a private income to
2997-654: The Blackadder series. In December 2020, William and Catherine became joint patrons of NHS Charities Together . In February 2021, he visited a vaccination centre in King's Lynn and later encouraged use of the vaccine, denouncing false information that could cause vaccine hesitancy . In May 2021, William got his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by NHS staff at the Science Museum in London. In September 2021, it
3108-826: The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight . In July 2015, William began working full-time as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) based at Cambridge Airport , which he felt was a natural progression from his previous search-and-rescue role. He donated his full salary to the EAAA charity. William required a civil pilot's licence and further training before being permitted to begin his role. He underwent part of his training at Norwich Airport . William described working irregular shifts and dealing mostly with critical care cases. He also discussed
3219-616: The Blues and Royals regiment. In 2008 he graduated from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell , joining the RAF Search and Rescue Force in early 2009. He served as a full-time pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance for two years, starting in July 2015. William performs official duties and engagements on behalf of the monarch. He holds patronage with over 30 charitable and military organisations, including
3330-652: The Duchy of Cornwall , in 2014, he entered St John's College, Cambridge to undertake an executive agriculture management degree run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL), of which his father is patron. In April 2019, Kensington Palace announced that William had completed a three-week internship at MI5 , MI6 and GCHQ , during which he was tasked with monitoring extreme Islamist terror cells, identifying potential threats abroad, and observing code breaking technology. Having decided on
3441-680: The Football Association , utilising football to affect the conversation surrounding mental health in adults. Later that month, William and Catherine, together with William's brother Harry and sister-in-law Meghan , launched Shout, the United Kingdom's first 24/7 text messaging service for those who suffer from mental issues. William later volunteered on the crisis helpline during the COVID-19 lockdowns to provide support via text message. He attributes his interest in mental health to his experiences as an air ambulance pilot, his work with
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3552-517: The Israel–Gaza conflict , and called for an end to the fighting in a statement approved by the UK government . Later that month, William pulled out at the last moment from the thanksgiving service of his godfather, Constantine II of Greece , due to an undisclosed "personal matter". The same month, he visited Western Marble Arch Synagogue to acknowledge the increase in antisemitism and human suffering in
3663-666: The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund . In 2010 William became a patron of 100 Women in Hedge Funds ' philanthropic initiatives for the following three years until 2012. The same year, he succeeded Lord Attenborough as the fifth president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . In March 2011, he and Catherine set up a gift fund held by The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry to allow well-wishers to donate money to charities supporting
3774-660: The Raleigh International programme in the town of Tortel in southern Chile, William worked for ten weeks on local construction projects and taught English. He lived with other young volunteers, sharing in the common household chores. His interest in African culture prompted him to teach himself Swahili . In 2001 William enrolled at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Similar to his time at Eton,
3885-553: The Royal Marsden Hospital , the latter of which was a role previously held by his mother. In July 2007, William and Harry organised the Concert for Diana, in memory of their mother, which benefitted the charities and patronages of Diana, William, and Harry. In October 2008, the brothers embarked on the 1,000 mile eight-day Enduro Africa motorbike ride across South Africa to raise money for Sentebale , UNICEF and
3996-600: The Treasurer of the Ordnance (1670–1835). Initially, the Paymaster General only had responsibilities in relation to the armed services but in 1848 two more offices were merged into that of Paymaster General: the Paymaster of Exchequer Bills (1723–1848) and the Paymaster of the Civil Service (1834–1848), the latter followed by its Irish counterpart in 1861. They thus became 'the principal paying agent of
4107-599: The Tusk Trust , Centrepoint , The Passage , Wales Air Ambulance and London's Air Ambulance Charity . He undertakes projects through the Royal Foundation , with his charity work revolving around mental health, conservation, homelessness, and emergency workers. In 2020 William launched the Earthshot Prize , a £50 million initiative to incentivise environmental solutions over the next decade. William
4218-539: The Wales Air Ambulance charity. In 2001 William met Catherine Middleton , while they were students in residence at St Salvator's Hall , at the University of St Andrews, and they became close friends. She reportedly caught William's attention at a charity fashion show at the university in 2002 when she appeared on the stage wearing a see-through lace dress. During their second year, William shared
4329-601: The earthquake , and spoke at the memorial service at Hagley Park on behalf of his grandmother. He also travelled to Australia to visit areas affected by flooding in Queensland and Victoria . Before attending Sandhurst, William did a three-week internship at several institutions, including the Bank of England , the London Stock Exchange and Lloyd's of London . To prepare for his eventual management of
4440-566: The Bank of England still plays a role in managing the government's higher level accounts. Leader of the House of Commons (5 January 1981 – 5 April 1982) William, Prince of Wales William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne . He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales . William
4551-410: The Current Account Switch Service will transfer the old-account activity to the new one: moving incoming and outgoing payments, transferring the account balance, and closing the old account. Although the process takes place over seven working days, the account is transferred on the final day; customers use the old account until the agreed switch day, and then use the new account with no loss of service. It
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4662-569: The Duke of Edinburgh, as president of Fields in Trust and transitioned into the role of patron in 2024. He established the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce in December 2014, with the goal of reducing global illegal wildlife trade. In 2014 Jane Goodall stated that William had expressed the view that all ivory in the royal collection needed to be destroyed . William has occasionally commented on
4773-751: The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , he and Catherine toured the country in May 2021. The couple attended the G7 summit for the first time in June 2021 in Cornwall. In March 2022, they embarked on a tour of Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations . Reparations for slavery emerged as a major demand of public protesters during the couple's visit. During
4884-594: The July issue of Attitude and became the first member of the royal family to be featured on the cover of a gay magazine. He was recognised at the British LGBT Awards in May 2017. William hosted a commemorative Pride Month discussion with mental health charity volunteers at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in June 2023. Since 2009, William has been patron of Child Bereavement UK, which provides support to children and families who have lost
4995-505: The Middle East. William became aware of HIV/AIDS in the mid-1990s when he accompanied his mother and brother on visits to shelters and clinics for patients. In January 2005, he and Harry volunteered at a British Red Cross aid distribution centre to pack emergency supplies for countries affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami . Later, in December 2005, William spent two weeks in North Wales with Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW). In May 2007, he became patron of MREW and president of
5106-479: The Office of the Paymaster General would be incorporated into a new body, the Government Banking Service , which also provides banking operations for HM Revenue & Customs and National Savings and Investments . Following the Bank of England's decision to withdraw from providing retail banking services, retail banking and payment services for the GBS are provided by a range of financial institutions including Barclays , Citibank , NatWest , and Worldpay , although
5217-416: The Paymaster General is usually a minister without portfolio available for any duties which the government of the day may designate. The post may be combined with another office, or may be left unfilled. Though the Paymaster General was titular head of the Paymaster General's Office, their executive functions were delegated to the Assistant Paymaster General, a permanent civil servant who (though acting in
5328-413: The Queen as patron. The same year, the WRU's decision to name the Prince William Cup drew criticism as some believed it would have been more appropriate to name it after Ray Gravell . William became patron of the WRU and the FA in 2016 and 2024, respectively. In December 2010, William, alongside David Cameron , attended a meeting with FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon at which Chung suggested
5439-465: The Royal Foundation, working with existing private sector and grassroots charity partners. The project focuses on early intervention and providing housing to families before other issues, such as abuse and joblessness, are addressed. In February 2024, William, in partnership with Cornish charity St Petrocs, announced plans for building 24 homes on Duchy of Cornwall land in Nansledan to provide temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness in
5550-421: The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In April 2007, William and Middleton were reported to have split. Middleton and her family attended the Concert for Diana three months later; the couple were subsequently reported to have "rekindled their relationship". She also attended the Order of the Garter procession at Windsor Castle in June 2008, where William was made a Royal Knight of the Garter . In June 2010,
5661-630: The Scottish national universities water polo team at the Celtic Nations tournament in 2004. He was reportedly known as "Steve" by other students to avoid any journalists overhearing and realising his identity. At the age of 21, William was appointed a Counsellor of State ; he first served in that capacity when the Queen attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the same year. In July 2005, he embarked on his first solo public engagements on an overseas tour of New Zealand, travelling to participate in World War II commemorations. According to author Tina Brown , he had, like his father, expressed
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#17327656369335772-444: The Trust in launching a 5,000-mile (8,000 km) bike ride across the African continent in April 2008. Later, William helped with launching the Tusk Conservation Awards, which have been presented to selected environmental activists annually since 2013. In June 2010, he and his brother visited Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa, undertaking projects relating to wildlife, sport, and young children. In 2013 he succeeded his grandfather,
5883-541: The UK national switch provider LINK Interchange Network on 2 July 2007, and became Vocalink . Vocalink owns the infrastructure on which payment schemes operate, and BPSL maintains the schemes. Bacs users began moving from the telephone dial-up BACSTEL service (introduced in 1983 to replace magnetic media) to BACSTEL-IP, a faster, more secure Internet-based service, in 2003. All Bacs users, including businesses that make payments to their suppliers or operate their staff payroll electronically, were required to move to BACSTEL-IP by
5994-496: The UK using Bacs Direct Credit and it has been widely adopted to pay benefits, wages and salaries – nearly 90 per cent of the country's workforce is paid this way and one billion benefit payments are made via Bacs Direct Credit – it is also the payment method used for a range of other applications such as pension payments, employee expenses, insurance settlements, dividends and refunds. Since its September 2013 introduction, more than six million UK current accounts have been switched;
6105-403: The World Mental Health Day, the couple took over Newsbeat and interviewed four guests on topics related to mental health. In September 2023, William unveiled two organizations that had partnered with the Duchy of Cornwall to raise better mental well-being and provide mental health services for all its tenants. In October 2023 and to mark World Mental Health Day, he and Catherine took part in
6216-427: The area. Future plans include building more than 400 social rented homes and a further 475 affordable dwellings in South East Faversham . William often plays polo to raise money for charity. He is a fan of football, and supports the English club Aston Villa . He became president of England's Football Association (FA) in May 2006 and vice-royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in February 2007, supporting
6327-458: The armed forces, children, the elderly, art, sport and conservation in lieu of gifts. The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry is now known as The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales . In March 2020, William appeared in a video for the National Emergencies Trust , launching a fundraising appeal to help charities during the pandemic. The appeal raised £11 million in its first week, eventually totalling to £90 million, with
6438-447: The centre in 1993 with his mother. In October 2020, he wrote the introduction to the organisation's 40th-anniversary fundraising cookbook, discussing the importance of helping victims of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic . In December 2020, William volunteered at the charity to help prepare donation bags for homeless residents in emergency hotel accommodations and spoke with residents about their experiences. In 2022 and 2023, he
6549-410: The charity's official patron in March 2020. In May 2020, he granted permission to the charity to use Kensington Palace's private lawn to refuel during the COVID-19 pandemic . To mark Air Ambulance Week 2020, he wrote a letter thanking air ambulance workers, stating his "profound respect" for the community, particularly during the "immeasurably difficult" outbreak. In February 2023, he became patron of
6660-513: The company registered the acronym as a trademark on 1 December 1971. It was renamed BACS Limited on 20 March 1986. On 1 December 2003, Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (BPSL) was split from Bacs Limited as a nonprofit organisation with members of the banking industry promoting the use of (and setting the rules for) automated-payment schemes and Bacs Limited owning the infrastructure to operate them. Bacs Limited used that name for one year, becoming Voca Limited on 12 October 2004. Voca Limited merged with
6771-537: The couple moved into a cottage on the Bodorgan Estate in Anglesey, Wales, where they resided until 2014. The couple became engaged in October 2010, at a remote alpine cabin on Mount Kenya , during a 10-day trip to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to celebrate William's passing the RAF helicopter search and rescue course. Clarence House announced their engagement on 16 November. William gave his fiancée his mother's engagement ring . The wedding took place in Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The global audience for
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#17327656369336882-465: The couple visited Sweden and Norway. The visits, which were, like others, requested by the Foreign Office , were interpreted to benefit UK-European relations post Brexit . In June 2018, William toured Jordan, Israel and Palestine. William and Catherine toured Pakistan in October 2019, which was the royal family's first visit to the country in 13 years. The tour was a success, helping promote diplomatic relations with Pakistan while also reflecting
6993-438: The couple's personal interests in climate change and the significance of quality education. In November 2020, it was reported that William had tested positive for COVID-19 in April but decided not to alert the media to 'avoid alarming the nation'. The Daily Telegraph reported he had been "very ill" and had isolated away from his family; other sources said that he had not been seriously ill, not bed-ridden and working for most of
7104-401: The damage it risks causing to the game we love." In July 2021, he condemned racist attacks against England football players following their loss at the UEFA Euro 2020 finale. BACS Bacs Payment Schemes Limited ( Bacs ), previously known as Bankers' Automated Clearing System , is responsible for the clearing and settlement of UK automated direct debit and Bacs Direct Credit and
7215-409: The day of his wedding in April 2011. He and Catherine toured Canada that summer. Nicholas Witchell , writing for BBC News , noted that the tour to Canada had been an "unqualified success" for the couple as they engaged in various activities from tree planting to street hockey, with their warm interactions and thoughtful gestures enhancing their popularity and reinforcing positive sentiments towards
7326-402: The effects of overpopulation on the wildlife of Africa , but his remarks have been criticised in the media for not taking resource consumption and population density into consideration. After two years of research, William launched the Earthshot Prize in October 2020, designed to provide funding and incentive for environmental solutions over the next decade. Following the launch, he gave
7437-664: The end of December 2005 or return to using cheques. When BACSTEL-IP was introduced, all software used to make a connection to Bacs required approval; it is only possible to connect with software from the list of Bacs Approved Solution Suppliers (BASS) or an approved bureau. New service users were required to use AUDDIS, a more efficient system for organizations to send new direct-debit instructions to their customers' bank or building society electronically instead of on paper, in 2008. That year, annual direct-debit volume surpassed three billion; volumee reached 3.5 billion by 2013, with 100 billion payments processed since 1968. A direct debit
7548-409: The end of November 2018, the number of daily transactions processed by Bacs reached a new high of 123 million; a monthly record of 580 million payments was set in August of that year. In January 2019, it was announced that Bacs had processed a record 6.4 billion UK payments, totalling just under £5 trillion, the previous year. Bacs processed 6.5 billion UK payments totalling £5 trillion in 2019, setting
7659-419: The end of November 2019, the number of single-day transactions processed by Bacs reached a high of 124 million; a monthly record was set in August 2018, when 580 million payments were processed. The Electronics Sub-Committee of the Committee of London Clearing Bankers was formed in the late 1950s to consider the automation of cheque-clearing . The committee set up a New Services Working Party in 1965 to examine
7770-403: The first member of the British royal family since Henry VII to live in Wales. William's first rescue mission as co-pilot of a RAF Sea King was in response to an emergency call from Liverpool Coastguard in October 2010. In November 2011, he participated in a search-and-rescue mission involving a cargo ship that was sinking in the Irish Sea; William, as a co-pilot, helped rescue two sailors. He
7881-411: The foundation to research the mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders, in partnership with King's College London and the Open University. In May 2021 and 2022, William and Catherine voiced the Mental Health Minute message, which was broadcast on every radio station in the United Kingdom on and asked people to help individuals around them that suffer from loneliness. In October 2022, to mark
7992-401: The fully operational site alongside E. O. Faulkner on Wednesday, 22nd November 1972. The IBCB was initially controlled by BCH's Systems and Development Committee before it was controlled by its own managing committee. The committee decided that a separate limited company should be created, and Bankers Automated Clearing Services was registered on 10 September 1971. Adopting BACS as its name,
8103-527: The funeral cortège from Kensington Palace to Westminster Abbey . After his mother's death, William stated that he was "in a state of shock for many years". He and Harry inherited the majority of the £12.9 million left by their mother on their respective 30th birthdays, a figure that had grown to £10 million each by 2014. In 2014 the brothers inherited their mother's wedding dress along with many other of her personal possessions including dresses, diamond tiaras, jewels, letters and paintings. They also received
8214-664: The government and the banker for all government departments except the revenue departments and the National Debt Office'. From 1848 to 1868, the post was held concurrently with that of Vice-President of the Board of Trade . The longest-serving holder of the post was Dawn Primarolo , whose portfolio covered HM Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue (which during her tenure became merged as HM Revenue and Customs ) and who served from 1999 to 2007. Today,
8325-633: The homeless, veterans' welfare, and his wife's anti-addiction advocacy. In March 2020, William and Catherine began supporting a new mental health initiative by the Public Health England agency amidst the coronavirus pandemic. In April 2020, the couple announced Our Frontline, an initiative providing mental health support to emergency medical workers. In September 2020, William established the Emergency Responders Senior Leaders Board, commissioned by
8436-411: The homeless. Biographer Robert Lacey asserts that William, a "rambunctious" and "bratty" child, grew "more reflective" with a "noticeably quiet character" as he began boarding school. Diana was reported to have described William as "my little wise old man" on whom she started to rely as her confidant by his early teens. William carried out his first public engagement while accompanying his parents on
8547-511: The impact of witnessing intensive trauma and bereavement on his mental health and personal life. The BBC has written that William was "exposed to the National Health Service in a way that no other senior royal has been or possibly ever will be." William left his position with EAAA in July 2017 to assume full-time royal duties. After supporting an anniversary campaign for London's Air Ambulance Charity in 2019, he became
8658-532: The lives of people around him if he was targeted. William instead trained in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force , obtaining his commission as a sub-lieutenant in the former and a flying officer in the latter, both broadly equivalent to the army rank of lieutenant. After completing his training, he undertook an attachment with the Royal Air Force at RAF Cranwell . Upon completing the course he
8769-554: The media agreed not to invade his privacy, and students were warned not to leak stories to the press. William embarked on a degree course in Art History but later changed his main subject to Geography . He focused his dissertation on the Indian Ocean's Rodrigues coral reefs and graduated with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree with upper second class honours in 2005. While at university, he represented
8880-884: The military in 2009, he spent up to six weeks with the Special Air Service , the Special Boat Service , and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment . In January 2010, he graduated from the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury . In the same month, he transferred to the Search and Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley , Anglesey , to receive training on the Sea King search and rescue helicopter; he graduated in September 2010. This made him
8991-563: The monarch's eldest son. William and Catherine visited Anglesey and Swansea on 27 September 2022, which marked their first visit to Wales since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales. He visited the Senedd in November 2022, meeting the Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford . In February 2023, William and Catherine visited Falmouth , marking their first visit to the region since becoming Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. In March 2023, he undertook
9102-566: The monarchy in Canada. The couple served as ambassadors for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, during multiple sporting events throughout the games. In September 2013, William and Catherine visited Singapore, Malaysia, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations . William hosted his first investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in October that year. In April 2014, he and Catherine undertook
9213-579: The money going out to "front line charities" and to the UK Community Foundations to be distributed among "local community foundations". In April 2020, he officially became patron of the organisation. Later that month, he made a surprise appearance on The Big Night In , a telethon held during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a skit which he held a video call with Stephen Fry , who reprised his role as (a descendant of) Lord Melchett , from
9324-773: The name of the Paymaster General) was answerable to the Chancellor of the Exchequer . The Paymaster General was formerly in nominal charge (and at one time in actual charge) of the Office of HM Paymaster General ( OPG ), which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of government departments and selected other public bodies. Funds which were made available from the Consolidated Fund were then channelled into OPG accounts, from where they were used by
9435-511: The number of payments handled by Bacs since 1968 had exceeded 110 billion. In 2016, 6.22 billion transactions were processed with a value of £4.8 trillion; the number of direct-debit payments exceeded four billion. Daily processing records were set twice that year: 109.3 million payments on one day at the end of September, surpassing the April high of 103.7 million. A record 6.34 billion payments were processed in 2017, totalling £4.9 trillion. At
9546-516: The original lyrics and score of " Candle in the Wind " by Bernie Taupin and Elton John as performed by the latter at Diana's funeral. In 2002 The Times reported that William and Harry would also share £4.9 million from trust funds established by their great-grandmother on their respective 21st birthdays, as well as £8 million upon their respective 40th birthdays. William was educated at private schools , starting at Jane Mynors' nursery school and
9657-839: The possibility of exchanging data between banks without using paper – specifically, the automated exchange of standing order credits. This led to the creation of the Inter-Bank Computer Bureau (IBCB) within the Bankers Clearing House, which was tasked with setting up a computer facility and led by Dennis Gladwell to steer the creation and development of what would become the Bankers Automated Clearing Services. The electronic transfer of funds began in 1968 in BCH's (Bankers Clearing House) computer room. A new location
9768-453: The pre-preparatory Wetherby School , both in London. Following this, he attended Ludgrove School near Wokingham , Berkshire, and was privately tutored during summers by Rory Stewart . At Ludgrove, he participated in football , swimming, basketball, clay pigeon shooting , and cross country running . He was subsequently admitted to Eton College , studying geography, biology, and history of art at A-Level . He obtained an 'A' in geography,
9879-595: The provision of third-party services. Bacs became a subsidiary of Pay.UK (formerly known as New Payment System Operator (NPSO)) on 1 May 2018, and responsibility for direct debit, Bacs Direct Credit, the Current Account Switch Service, Cash ISA Transfer Service and the Industry Sort Code Directory was given to Pay.UK. More than 140 billion transactions have been debited or credited to British bank accounts via Bacs since its inception; in 2019, 6.5 billion UK payments, worth £5 trillion, were made. At
9990-490: The reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II . Buckingham Palace announced his name – William Arthur Philip Louis – on 28 June. William was christened in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the then Archbishop of Canterbury , Robert Runcie , on 4 August, coinciding with the 82nd birthday of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . William
10101-459: The relevant body. OPG operated a full range of accounts and banking transaction services, including cheque and credit, BACS and CHAPS services for its customers via an electronic banking system. Integration of OPG accounts held with commercial banks was provided by the private company Xafinity Paymaster which is now part of the Equiniti group. However, in 2008, the government announced that
10212-403: The service reported a seven-day switching success rate of 99.4 per cent. It offers consumers, small businesses, trusts and small charities a way of switching current accounts to increase competition and support the entry of new banks in the current-account marketplace. The service is offered by 49 banks and building societies. When a current account is opened with a new bank or building society,
10323-488: The tabloid press agreed that William would be allowed to study free from intrusion in exchange for regular updates about his life. John Wakeham , chairman of the Press Complaints Commission , stated "Prince William is not an institution; nor a soap star; nor a football hero. He is a boy: in the next few years, perhaps the most important and sometimes painful part of his life, he will grow up and become
10434-455: The time. In December that year, the couple embarked on a tour of England, Scotland, and Wales via the British royal train "to pay tribute to the inspiring work" of communities and charities in 2020. Boris Johnson expressed his support, while Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised the tour, citing travel restrictions; local governments were consulted before planning the tour. In William's capacity as Lord High Commissioner to
10545-727: The unveiling of the National Windrush Monument in London, William described the tour as "an opportunity to reflect" and condemned racism faced by both members of the Windrush generation and British minorities in 2022. In May 2022, he attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time as a counsellor of state , where his father delivered the Queen's Speech on behalf of Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, and William's father succeeded as Charles III. William, now heir apparent ,
10656-544: The wedding ranged around 300 million, whereas 26 million watched the event live in Britain alone. William and Catherine used Nottingham Cottage as their London home until 2013, when £4.5 million renovations completed at Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, which continues to be their official residence in the capital. The couple were given the country house Anmer Hall , on the Sandringham Estate , as
10767-465: Was announced that Catherine was pregnant with her second child. She was admitted on 2 May 2015 to the same hospital where she gave birth to Princess Charlotte the same day. Catherine's third pregnancy was announced in September 2017; Prince Louis was born on 23 April 2018. William and Catherine have owned two English Cocker Spaniels , named Lupo and Orla. William was created Duke of Cambridge , Earl of Strathearn , and Baron Carrickfergus on
10878-454: Was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II . He was educated at Wetherby School , Ludgrove School and Eton College . He earned a Master of Arts degree in geography at the University of St Andrews where he met his future wife, Catherine Middleton . They have three children: George , Charlotte and Louis . After university, William trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst prior to serving with
10989-500: Was born in September 1984. Both of them were raised at Kensington Palace in London, and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Known informally as "Wills" within his family, William was nicknamed "Willy" by his brother and "Wombat" by his mother. Diana wished her sons to obtain broader and more typical life experiences beyond royal upbringing, taking them to Walt Disney World , McDonald's , AIDS clinics and shelters for
11100-538: Was created Prince of Wales by his father on 9 September. Controversy regarding the title became a topic of public debate in Wales. By 17 September, a petition calling for the end of the title had received over 30,000 signatures, while a YouGov poll showed 66 per cent support for William to be given the title compared to 22 percent of respondents opposed. On 30 October, Senedd Llywydd Elin Jones noted that an investiture
11211-720: Was deployed to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour with No. 1564 Flight from February to March 2012. The Argentine government condemned William's deployment to the islands close to the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands War as a "provocative act". In June 2012, he gained a qualification to be captain or pilot in command of a Sea King rather than a co-pilot. His active service as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot ended in September 2013. He conducted 156 search and rescue operations, which resulted in 149 people being rescued. He later became patron to
11322-457: Was found in 1971: a converted warehouse in Edgware on a site used by Amy Johnson and Jim Mollison on their solo flights to Australia. Plans for a purpose-built computer centre were drawn up early that year. The building was completed in June 1972, with ICL equipment delivered in July. Full computer service was established after the relocation in October 1972. Dennis Gladwell officially opened
11433-501: Was helping victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake . In July 2023, William became patron of the appeal to launch The Fleming Centre, driving a new global movement to tackle antimicrobial resistance . In July 2024, he and Catherine made donations to help victims of Hurricane Beryl . William became patron of the Tusk Trust in December 2005, a charity that works towards conserving wildlife and initiating community development across Africa. He carried out his first official duty with
11544-519: Was made Duke of Cambridge immediately before his wedding in April 2011. He became Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay upon his father's accession to the throne on 8 September 2022. The following day he was made Prince of Wales . Prince William was born at 21:03 BST on 21 June 1982 in St Mary's Hospital, London , as the first child of Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III ), and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales , during
11655-524: Was operated on at Great Ormond Street Hospital , resulting in a permanent scar. The incident received widespread media attention. In 1999 he underwent an operation on his left hand after he broke a finger. After completing his studies at Eton, William took a gap year, during which he took part in British Army training exercises in Belize, worked on English dairy farms, and visited Africa. As part of
11766-619: Was presented with his RAF wings by his father, who had received his own wings after training at Cranwell. During this secondment , William flew to Afghanistan in a C-17 Globemaster that repatriated the body of Trooper Robert Pearson. William was then seconded to train with the Royal Navy. He then completed an accelerated Naval Officer training course at the Britannia Royal Naval College . Whilst serving on HMS Iron Duke in July 2008, William participated in
11877-580: Was reported that he had assisted in the evacuation of an Afghan officer, a Royal Military Academy Sandhurst graduate and aide to British troops, from Kabul airport, along with over 10 of his family members, during the 2021 Taliban offensive . In March 2022 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine , William and Catherine made a donation to help the refugees. In February 2023, they donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) which
11988-406: Was reportedly uncertain as to whether he should walk behind his mother's coffin during the funeral procession . His grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , told him: "If you don't walk, I think you'll regret it later. If I walk, will you walk with me?". At the funeral, William and Harry walked alongside their father, grandfather, and maternal uncle, Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer , behind
12099-449: Was spotted selling copies of The Big Issue on the streets, copies of which are usually sold by homeless and unemployed people to collect money. In June 2023, William launched Homewards after two years of development, which aims to "finally end homelessness" in the United Kingdom. The five-year initiative aims to tackle homelessness in six pilot locations across the United Kingdom with an initial seed funding allocated for each area by
12210-443: Was the first child born to a Prince and Princess of Wales since Prince John was born to Prince George and Princess Mary (later King George V and Queen Mary ) in July 1905. When he was nine months old, William accompanied his parents on their 1983 tour of Australia and New Zealand, as his first trip overseas. It also marked the first time that a royal baby was taken on an overseas tour. His younger brother, Prince Harry ,
12321-437: Was the first royal to visit mainland China in almost three decades, with the press referring to William's diplomacy as "deft" and "polished". In response to media allegations of being "work-shy", he asserted his commitment to his duties, emphasizing his dedication to fatherhood and his role in air ambulance work. Countries visited by William and Catherine in 2017 included France, Poland, Germany, and Belgium. In January 2018
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