The death of Diana of Wales in 1997 thrust young Prince William, then 15 years old, into the global media spotlight abruptly.
As The Crown series now shows, the first-born son of Charles and Diana went from being a shy and reserved teenager to becoming, against his will, the object of global adoration.
Prince William in 1997: “Willsmania”
After insisting on walking alongside his relatives in his mother’s funeral procession, William began to receive thousands of letters from female fans around the world seeking to console him and declare their love.
Thus was born the “Willsmania”: wherever he went, there were crowds asking for his attention. As The Crown reflects, he was very uncomfortable with so much fame, as he was by nature an introvert, the opposite of his popular mother.
This sudden popularity created tensions in his relationship with his father Charles, whom he partially blamed for Diana’s death and for not protecting him from media harassment.
According to the series, Charles went so far as to say that “unlike Diana, William is a shy boy and is not comfortable with so much attention.”
Over the years, William has learned to better manage his popularity and royal duties.
Today, married to Kate Middleton and father of three children, he is considered the “sexiest bald man” according to The Sun newspaper.
From a shy boy, he has become a mature prince, ready to one day become king of England.