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King William’s War — the First French and Indian War

King William’s War (1688–1697) was the first conflict in North America between England, France, and their respective Native American Indian allies. There was no clear victor in the war, which was an extension of the Nine Years’ War. However, it set the stage for future conflicts in North America between the European powers as they fought for control of the Fur Trade and dominance of the continent.

King William’s War is named for William of Orange, who was crowned King William III during the Glorious Revolution in England. This painting by Godfrey Kneller depicts William. Image Source: Wikipedia.

King William’s War Summary

King William’s War was the First Intercolonial War fought in North America between the English Colonies and New France. It is also referred to as the First French and Indian War, as it involved the Iroquois Confederacy and the Wabanaki Confederacy.

The war was an extension of the Nine Years’ War, which was fought in Europe for control of the English Crown and to limit French expansion. For the first time, European powers involved their North American colonies, which is why King William’s War is also considered by some to be the first true world war.

King William’s War lasted for nearly a decade and was the beginning of a series of wars fought for control of the eastern half of North America and the Fur Trade. When peace was agreed to, territories and borders were restored to what they were before the war.

A temporary peace was achieved between the French, English, and Indian confederacies, which also helped bring an end to the Beaver Wars in 1701.

However, the battle for control of the East Coast, Canada, and the Louisiana Territory between France, England, and the Indians quickly resumed with Queen Anne’s War in 1702. 

King William’s War Facts — 10 Things to Know

1. King William’s War lasted from 1688 to 1697 and was the first of the intercolonial wars between New England and New France in North America.

2. King William’s War is considered the First French and Indian War and the Second Indian War, following King Philip’s War.

3. The war was caused by territorial disputes, religious differences, and European power struggles, particularly between England and France.

4. The Dominion of New England, formed in 1686, faced internal disarray, contributing to tensions and hostilities between New England and New France.

5. The Iroquois Confederacy, allied with New England, interfered with the Fur Trade between New France and western tribes, contributing to the escalation of the war.

6. The Wabanaki Confederacy, a union of five Acadian tribes, was formed to consolidate New France’s claim on Maine and stop English expansion into Acadia.

7. Major Benjamin Church played a prominent role in the war, leading several expeditions into Acadia to retaliate against the Wabanaki Confederacy’s attacks.

8. The war saw numerous raids and attacks on both English and French settlements, resulting in casualties, massacres, and captured settlers.

9. Several offensives, including the Quebec and Port Royal expeditions, were undertaken by New England forces.

10. Peace was achieved in 1697 through the Treaty of Ryswick, temporarily ending hostilities between France and England, but conflicts continued in subsequent colonial wars until France’s ultimate defeat in North America in 1763.

King William’s War — New England and New France

European conquest of the americas — god, gold, and glory.

Along the East Coast of North America, from Newfoundland in the north to Florida in the south, England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and others worked to establish trading posts and settlements in hopes of finding natural resources that would give them an advantage over their European rivals.

In all cases, efforts at Colonialism were driven by the economic theory known as Mercantilism .

The Spanish moved from South America into Florida and up the Mississippi River. 

The French settled in present-day Canada and moved south into the Ohio Country and down the Mississippi River. 

The English, Dutch, and others settled along the east coast. Over time, the English started moving westward, over the Appalachian Mountains. 

With each movement, Europeans claimed the land as their own, despite the presence of the Indians they encountered. Europeans justified their conquest of the Americas by spreading Christianity to the Indians. Although many Indians converted — known as “Praying Indians” — they were often forced to conform.

The European Conquest of the Americans revolved around three main concepts:

• Spreading Christianity
• Finding Gold
• Achieving Glory

This is often referred to as “God, Gold, and Glory.”

Establishment of New France

France was the first to gain a foothold in the Northeast, establishing Port Royal in 1604 under the leadership of Samuel de Champlain — the “Father of New France.” Port Royal was the first permanent European settlement north of Florida. In 1608, Champlain established another settlement called Quebec.

The government of New France was under the direct control of the French monarchy and did not have representative assemblies elected by the people. The colony’s main resource was beaver pelts and French hunters and trappers successfully built relationships with the Indians. 

However, the French also sent Catholic missionaries, notably the Jesuits, into the region to convert the Indians to Christianity. The Jesuits established missions — small villages — throughout New France in order to educate the Indians about Catholicism.

These missions and the spread of Catholicism were naturally a concern for the English living in New England. 

New England, Catholics, and Indian Confederacies

New England was largely a haven for Puritans who fled Europe in search of religious freedom and to escape the ongoing conflict between Catholics and Protestants, which often fueled wars. 

As far as the English colonists living in New England were concerned, the presence of the French Catholics, and their efforts to convert the Indians, were a threat to the Puritans and other Protestant denominations.

By the time of King William’s War, New Englanders had already fought two destructive wars with Indian confederacies. The first was the Pequot War (1634–1638) and the second was King Philip’s War (1675–1678) . Both conflicts resulted in death and destruction throughout New England and led to the expansion of English settlements further inland.

The Wabanaki Confederacy

After King Philip’s War, a group of tribes joined together as the Wabanaki Confederacy. The tribes were: Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Abenaki. All of them lived in the Acadia Region of New France.

Growth of New France and New England

Over time, the presence of the English and French grew in the Northeast. The English eventually took control of New Netherland and New Sweden and the 13 Original Colonies started to take shape. 

Both New England and New France started to transition from collections of settlements and outposts to established colonies with large port cities surrounded by towns. 

However, the growth was faster and more organized in New England and throughout the English Colonies.

New France Territorial Possessions at the Time of King William’s War

At the onset of King William’s War, the territorial possessions of New France were vast — much larger than English possessions. New France consisted of four colonies:

• Canada — It consisted of the territory along the St. Lawrence River, including Quebec, Montreal, and Trois-Rivieres (Three Rivers).
• Acadia — Located to the east of Canada, Acadia ran along the East Coast of the continent, and extended into present-day Maine, where it bordered New England. Although Acadia had been under Scottish control at one time, and was an English territory from 1654–1670, it was French territory in 1689.
• Placentia — It was on the Avalon Peninsula in what is the southeast of present-day Newfoundland.
• Louisiana — Located to the west and south of Canada, Louisiana was a massive territory that stretched from the Great Lakes down to the Gulf of Mexico.

English Territorial Possessions at the Time of King William’s War

By the time of King William’s War, the English Colonies in North America had been established, except for Georgia.

England also had a colony on Newfoundland, which it shared with the French. The English colony was north of Placentia.

Northwest of Canada was another English territory around Hudson Bay. It was under the control of the Hudson’s Bay Company, a significant player in the Fur Trade. This naturally brought it into conflict with both the Indians and French, who also wanted to dominate the business.

Following King Philip’s War, the New England Colonies were unified by the Crown into the Dominion of New England . Sir Edmund Andros was the Governor at the start of King William’s War. Andros was controversial because he enforced the taxes and rules associated with the Navigation Acts and also promoted the Church of England.

What happened during King William’s War? A History of the First French and Indian War

Causes of the nine years’ war in europe.

In 1688, Parliament agreed to replace King James II, a Catholic, with William of Orange, a Protestant. James fled to France and allied with King Louis XIV. Together, they planned to restore James to the English throne, reinstate Catholic rule, and expand French borders.

The Nine Years’ War Begins

The war started when France invaded the Rhineland — present-day Netherlands and Germany. Protestant leaders, including William of Orange, responded by forming a “grand alliance,” known as the League of Augsburg to oppose the French. 

War was declared between England and France in 1689. Commonly known as the Nine Years’ War, it is also known as the War of the Grand Alliance and the War of the League of Augsburg. The Nine Years’ War is also referred to as the first true world war because it spread to Ireland (Willamite War) and to North America — King William’s War.

New England, New France, and Indian Confederacies

After the English defeated the Wampanoag and Narragansett in King Philip’s War, the western frontier of the New England Colonies opened to expansion. As more immigrants arrived in New England, the colonies expanded inland, pushing into the territory of various Indian tribes. 

In response, the Wabanaki Confederacy formed, uniting five Indian tribes together to resist English expansion into Acadia. By then, New France was established and also posed a threat to the English Colonies in New England. 

A major source of contention between the English and the French was a lack of a well-defined border between Acadia and New England. As a result, both the French and English laid claim to some of the same territory.

During the war, the French allied with the Wabanaki Confederacy and the English allied with the Iroquois Confederacy. 

The Iroquois were also battling with the French for control of the Fur Trade, which was part of the ongoing Beaver Wars , a conflict that crossed over with the events of King William’s War.

Additional Events Contributing to King William’s War

1672 — Count Louis de Frontenac is named Governor General of New France. Frontenac builds the French Fur Trade, competing with the Iroquois. The French also battled with the Iroquois as part of the Beaver Wars.

1685 — James II became King of England and attempted to convert the nation to Catholicism, leading to unrest among the predominantly Protestant population.

1686 — The French started the Hudson Bay Expedition and attacked trading posts run by the Hudson’s Bay Company. The French captured the trading posts, including Fort Albany in New York.

1686 — First Battle of Fort Albany. French forces battled with the Hudson’s Bay Company. The English surrendered and the French captured their ships.

1687 — William Phips, a native of Pemaquid, led an expedition that discovered a sunken Spanish galleon near the Bahamas. He recovered roughly £300,000 in gold, silver, and jewels. He returned to England where he was knighted — the first American to receive the honor.

1687 — Attack on Seneca. Marquis de Denonville, the Governor of New France, attacked the Seneca in Western New York and burned the towns of Ganondagan and Totiakton. This attack was part of the Beaver Wars but played a role in the actions of King William’s War.

King William’s War in 1688

Hostilities in North America started in 1688 when the Governor General of New France, Count Louis de Frontenac encouraged the Wabanaki to carry out raids on English settlements. The raids, which were usually surprise attacks, took place along the border of Acadia and New England.

Raid on St. Castin’s Trading House

In April 1688, Sir Edmund Andros, the unpopular Governor of the Dominion of New England, retaliated to the border raids by leading an attack on St. Castin’s Trading House at present-day Castine, Maine.

Castine was an Abenaki village the home of Baron Jean-Vincent de Saint-Castin, a French officer who lived with the Abenaki.

Castin and his Indian allies responded with more raids on English settlements along the border of Acadia and New England. 

They attacked present-day Newcastle, Maine on August 13, 1688. A few days later, they clashed with English settlers at Yarmouth and then attacked Kennebunk.

Andros organized another expedition and went into Acadia. However, he was unable to find the Wabanaki who carried out the raids and returned to Boston.

Raid on Chedabucto

Four months after the raid at Castin, New England forces raided a fishing village, Chedabucto, at present-day Guysborough, Nova Scotia. 

Events in 1688 Affecting the War

1688 — The Glorious Revolution took place. James II was overthrown, leading to the accession of William and Mary as joint sovereigns of England.

1688 — France invaded the Rhineland, initiating the Nine Years’ War.

King William’s War in 1689

The glorious revolution and the boston revolt of 1689.

On February 13, 1689, the Glorious Revolution culminated in the crowning of William of Orange as King William III . His wife was crowned Queen Mary II and joined him as the new sovereigns of England.

When news of the Glorious Revolution arrived in Boston in April, the citizens arrested Andros and restored the colony’s original charter. This event, known as the “Boston Revolt of 1689,” led to the dissolution of the Dominion of New England. 

Samuel Bradstreet, who had been the Governor of Massachusetts before the Dominion of New England was created, was reinstated by the people of Massachusetts. With the restoration of the colony’s charter, New Hampshire fell under the control of the Massachusetts government. It would remain that way until 1741.

England Declares War on France

Despite the overthrow of Andros, King William’s War continued. On May 17, 1689, England declared war on France, which escalated the conflict, and hostilities spread south from Maine into New Hampshire. Dover, one of the oldest settlements in New Hampshire, was targeted by the Wabanaki.

Raid on Dover — June 27

In 1689, there were around 50 fortified homes in the area around Dover. Each home was large, so it could be used as a shelter for more than one family and was surrounded by a high wall. 

At night, the neighboring families would go to the fortified house to sleep, knowing they would be safe. At Cocheco, there were five fortified homes, including one owned by Richard Waldron, who was also recognized as the leader of the settlement.

In the aftermath of King Philip’s War, some members of the Pennacook Tribe and other tribes were sold into slavery. By June 1689, some of them had returned to the area and they blamed Waldron for what had happened to them, as they believed he had betrayed them in 1676.

The Indians living near Dover formed an alliance, led by a Pennacook warrior, Chief Kancamagus, and devised a plan to attack the fortified homes at Cocheco.

Although some people in Dover suspected the Indians were planning something, Waldron insisted there was nothing to fear. He was also confident that if there was an uprising, he would be able to gather the militia and easily defend Dover. 

What Waldron was unaware of was the plan for an attack on Cocheco was circulating throughout parts of Massachusetts. At that time, King Wiliam’s War had not spread into New Hampshire, so Waldron considered the English there to be at peace with the Indians.

On the evening of June 27, 1689, two Indian women went to each of the fortified homes at Cocheco and asked for refuge. It was a common practice during peacetime, and four of the five homeowners let them in — including Waldron. 

Early the next morning, the women opened the gates and let in the Indian warriors. Waldron and 22 others were brutally killed and 29 were taken captive and carried off. The Indians burned eight houses and the gristmill and sawmill at Cocheco Falls.

On June 28, in the aftermath of the “Cocheco Massacre,” a letter from Chelmsford, Massachusetts arrived in Dover. 

It included details of the plan to carry out the attack on Waldron and the other fortified homes at Cocheco. Had it arrived a day or two earlier, the settlers living in Dover may have been able to prevent the attack.

First Siege of Pemaquid — August 2–3

In Acadia, Baron Saint-Castin decided to retaliate on his own for the attack on his trading house. Along with Father Louis-Pierre Thury, and an Abenaki chief named Moxus, Saint-Castin led a force of roughly 200 Abenaki warriors to the village of Pemaquid, which is present-day Bristol, Maine.

Saint-Castin’s forces surrounded the trading post, Fort Charles and attacked settlers who approached the fort. Although the garrison was allowed to retreat to Boston, many of the settlers were killed or captured. 

Saint-Castin burned the fort and took the prisoners to Fort Meductic, a fortified Maliseet village near present-day Meductic, New Brunswick. 

One of the captives was John Gyles, who was only nine years old. Gyles survived and later wrote about his experience, publishing an autobiography in 1736 called Memoirs of Odd Adventures, Strange Deliverances, Etc. in the Captivity of John Gyles .

Lachine Massacre — August 5

As part of the Beaver Wars, Mohawk warriors attacked the settlement of Lachine in New France, southwest of Montreal. It was in response to the French attack against the Seneca in 1687, along with French expansion into Mohawk territory. New England settlers encouraged the Mohawks to carry out the attack, which led to the destruction of Lachine and the deaths of roughly 240 French settlers.

Massachusetts Sends Swaine Into New Hampshire

Massachusetts responded to the Siege of Pemaquid by assembling a military expedition of 600 men to secure the border between Acadia and New Hampshire. Major Jeremiah Swaine led the force into New Hampshire in August.

Despite the presence of Swaine and his men, a party of Abenaki warriors attacked the village of Oyster River — present-day Durham, New Hampshire. Approximately 20 settlers were killed, including children. Most of the others were captured.

When Swaine was alerted, he sent a scouting party to find the Abenaki, but they failed.

Raid on New Dartmouth — August 13

French and Indian forces led by Saint-Castin conducted raids along the frontier, starting at present-day Newcastle.

Benjamin Church and His Rangers

Governor Bradstreet of Massachusetts was furious with Swaine’s failure. He recalled him and sent Benjamin Church, who was recognized as a hero of King Philip’s War, to deal with the Indians.

As a veteran Indian fighter, Church understood traditional European tactics did not work in New England. He trained a group of his own men to use the same tactics as the Indians, generally referred to as “guerrilla warfare.” Church’s men are viewed as the first light infantrymen in U.S. history and eventually became the U.S. Army Rangers.

Battle of Bracket’s Wood — September 21

Church and his men moved toward Acadia and traveled to Falmouth, which is present-day Portland, Maine. When Church arrived, he found the town under attack by Wabanaki warriors. He and his men quickly joined the battle.

However, Church and his men found out that the musket balls that were issued to them were too big for the barrels of their guns. They were forced to spend time reshaping the balls by hammering on them. This turned the balls into flatter, cylindrical slugs, but they were usable.

The Wabakai were eventually driven off. Church chased after them but was unable to find them in the forest. Soon after, Church and his men returned to Boston.

Events in 1689 Affecting the War

1689 — The League of Augsburg is formed.

King William’s War in 1690

During the winter of 1689–1690, Count Frontenac developed a plan for an offensive against English settlements in Maine and New Hampshire. 

Joseph-Francois Hertel and his son, Jean-Baptiste, were given command of the expedition, which included around 25 French Canadian soldiers and a party of Abenaki, Mi’kmaq, and Maliseet warriors.

Schenectady Massacre — February 8

A French contingent led by Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville attacked the New York settlement of Schenectady in retaliation for the Lachine Massacre. The French were joined by Mohawk and Algonquin warriors, who were aligned with the French, instead of the Iroquois Confederacy and the English.

Schenectady was destroyed, and most of the settlers were killed or captured, including a number of enslaved blacks living in the village. Survivors, including a handful of slaves, were taken to a Mohawk village near Montreal where they were assimilated into the tribe.

 The attack is also related to the ongoing Beaver Wars.

Raid on Salmon Falls — March 27

On March 27, 1690, the French force led by the Hertels surrounded the settlement of Salmon Falls at present-day Berwick, Maine. They burned the village and killed or captured most of the settlers. Portsmouth sent its militia to engage the French and a brief skirmish ensued, but the French drove them off. It is estimated that more than 50 women and children were taken to Acadia as prisoners.

Battle of Port Royal — May 16

Port Royal, one of the oldest French settlements in Acadia, was located on the Acadian Peninsula, on the Bay of Fundy. It was located on the site of present-day Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.

Determined to protect its borders against the French and Indian attacks, Massachusetts organized an expedition that included 7 ships and around 700 soldiers. The expedition, led by Sir William Phips, sailed to Port Royal and attacked on May 16.

The French defenses were weak, disorganized, and easily defeated by Phips and his men. The Governor of Acadia, Louis-Alexandre des Friches de Meneval, was taken prisoner, as were most of his soldiers.

Before leaving for Boston, the English plundered the town and forced the French to swear to an Oath of Loyalty to both the English Crown and Massachusetts. However, when Phips left, he failed to leave a garrison to maintain English control of Port Royal.

However, with Port Royal in ruins, the capital of Acadia was moved to Fort Nashwaak, near present-day Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Battle of Fort Loyal at Falmouth — May 16–20

Following the Raid on Salmon Falls, the Hertels were reinforced by Saint-Castin, leading a force of 200-300 Abenaki warriors. Together, they advanced on Falmouth (Portland, ME), and attacked on May 16.

The settlers took shelter in Fort Loyal, under the command of Captain Sylvanus Davis, and held out for four days. The French forces took shelter in a gully that protected them and then dug a trench toward the fort in a zig-zag fashion. Eventually, they were close enough to the fort that they were able to throw grenades over the walls.

The settlers surrendered on May 20, after the French promised they would be safe from the Indians. However, as soon as the settlers came out of the fort the Wabanakis attacked them and killed most of them. Captain Davis was one of the few survivors, and he, like the others, was taken to Quebec.

With Fort Loyal eliminated, the Wabanaki were free to travel throughout the region and attack settlements along the border of Acadia and New Hampshire at will.

Battle of Chedabucto at Fort St. Louis — June 3

Following Port Royal, Phips sent Captain Cyrian Southack to attack Fort St. Louis, which was in the fishing village of Chedabucto (Guysborough, Nova Scotia).

Southack led nearly 90 men in an attack on the fort, which was garrisoned by about a dozen French soldiers. Despite being outnumbered, the French held out for six hours, before surrendering.

Southack allowed the French to leave Chedabucto and then destroyed a valuable amount of cod that had been harvested by the Company of Acadia, the village’s fishing operation.

Phips Returns to Boston

Phips returned to Boston and received a hero’s welcome. It was soon determined to send another naval expedition to capture Quebec. Meanwhile, New York organized an overland expedition to capture Montreal.

Benjamin Church’s Second Expedition — September 1690

In September, Church led a second expedition into Acadia. This time, he took 300 men, including his rangers, volunteers, and Indians, and went to Falmouth (Portland, ME). When he arrived, he and his men buried the dead who had been killed during the attack in May. Many of the dead were the same settlers he had saved at the Battle of Bracket’s Wood.

After burying the dead, Church went in search of the Wabanaki who were responsible for the deaths. He led the expedition to Pejepscot, which is present-day Brunswick, Maine, arriving on September 11.

Capture of Pejepscot

His goal was to recapture Fort Pejepscot, which had been taken by the Wabanaki. When he arrived, he found the fort in ruins, and the Wabanaki in the town fled north. Church occupied Pejepscot and found some Abanaki wigwams. 

In them were elderly Abanaki, including women and children, along with English settlers who were being held captive. Church freed the settlers and then had some of the Abanaki brutally killed. The others were taken as prisoners.

Two elderly women were spared so they could deliver a message to the Abanaki warriors when they returned to Pejepscot.

The message was the Abanaki should meet him in two weeks at Salmon Falls (Berwick, ME), with all of the English settlers who had been taken as prisoners. If they failed to meet him, he threatened to execute his Abanaki prisoners.

Fight at Cape Elizabeth

Church only had three boats for his expedition. Between his troops and the settlers he had rescued, they were crowded. He sailed roughly 35 miles south and stopped at Purpooduck Point — present-day Cape Elizabeth, Maine — where they set up a camp for the night.

Unknown to Church, the Abanaki warriors were following him and surrounded the camp during the night. The Abanaki attacked in the morning, but their muskets were ineffective due to wet gunpowder.

The Englishmen in the camp retreated to the shore, where they were joined by their counterparts who spent the night on the boats. Together, they were able to repel the Abanaki attack.

The Wabanaki retaliated within a few days and attacked Church at Cape Elizabeth, roughly 35 miles south of Salmon Falls. Church also attacked a nearby settlement called Purpooduck.

A Truce and Prisoner Exchanges

In October, the Abenaki representatives went to the town of Wells, Maine, carrying a white flag of truce. They agreed to a prisoner exchange, which was set for November.

When it came time for the prisoner exchange, the Abanaki only brought 10 settlers with them — significantly less than had been taken away up to that point.

After six days of negotiations, the Abanaki agreed to a truce and to bring more prisoners to another exchange, which would take place in May 1691.

Failure to Capture Quebec and Montreal

While Church was dealing with the Indians along the coast of Maine, the Massachusetts Colony and the New York Colony planned to launch separate attacks on Quebec and Montreal. 

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mayland, and Plymouth provided militia forces for these expeditions. The Iroquois also provided men. Unfortunately, no party was able to provide as many men as they promised. The lack of men, resources, and bad weather led to the failure of both expeditions.

While New York and Connecticut paid for the Montreal expedition, Massachusetts paid for the full amount of the Quebec expedition, which was led by Sir William Phips.

Battle of Quebec — October 16–20

The Massachusetts expedition left Boston in August, arriving at Quebec in October. On the 16th, the attack started — the first time in the long history of the French and Indian Wars that English forces attacked the fortress city. However, the attack was poorly coordinated and the French were able to withstand the attack. Phips was forced to withdraw and return to Boston.

King William’s War in 1691

Battle of la prarie — august 11.

As part of the expedition against Montreal, Major Peter Schuyler led a force of English soldiers and Indian warriors into Canada. He intended to target French settlements along the Richelieu River, south of Montreal.

Louis-Hector de Callière, the French Governor in the region, responded by assembling a force that included nearly 800 French marines, militia, and Indians at La Prarie, which is on the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River.

On August 11, Schuyler launched a surprise attack on La Prarie. Schuyler was forced to retreat when French reinforcements arrived, trapping Schuyler’s men, and forcing them into hand-to-hand combat. After roughly an hour, the English forces were able to push through and escape.

Schuyler decided to abandon further attacks in the region and returned to Albany, New York.

Naval Battle at St. John — September 22

Following the Battle of Port Royal, England believed Acadia was under its control and Edward Tyng was appointed Governor. 

On September 22, an English sailboat carrying Tyng was attacked by a French ship under the command of Joseph Robineau de Villebon, the French Governor of Acadia. The battle takes place in the Bay of Fundy near present-day Saint John, New Brunswick. Both Tyng and the captain of the sailboat, John Nelson, were captured and taken as prisoners.

At the time, Captain John Alden — the son of the Pilgrims John Alden and Priscilla Alden — was himself a prisoner of the French. 

The French decided to offer a prisoner exchange to Massachusetts officials. Alden was sent to Boston to negotiate the exchange. The French offered to return Tyng if the New Englanders released 60 soldiers who had been captured by Phips during the Battle of Port Royal.

While Alden was in Boston, the French held one of his sons, likely John Alden IV, and Tyng at Port Royal. Nelson was also held captive, but he was sent to Quebec.

While he was in prison, Nelson gathered intelligence on the French forces. He was caught and sent to France, where he was held in the Bastille. He returned to his home on Long Island in 1701 and received a hero’s welcome.

Unfortunately, Massachusetts only gave Alden six prisoners to exchange. The French responded by sending his son and Tyng to France. Tyng died there, at La Rochelle. The fate of Alden’s son is unclear.

King William’s War in 1692

The candlemas massacre — january 24.

On January 24, 1692, French forces carried out a raid on York, Maine. It is estimated that 300 settlers were killed or taken as prisoners. This event, known as the “Candlemas Massacre,” was soon followed by an outbreak of witchcraft accusations in Massachusetts, which spread throughout New England.

Mohawk Valley Raid — February

A combined force of French and Indians under the command of Nicolas d’Ailleboust de Manthet attacked three Mohawk villages. These attacks were also part of the Beaver Wars.

All three villages — also known as “castles” — were destroyed, along with their food stores. Survivors of the attacks were taken as prisoners and sent to the “Christian Indian” villages near Montreal.

Major Peter Schuyler assembled a combined force of militia and Iroquois and pursued the French and Indian party. Schuyler caught up to them and a skirmish ensued. Most of the prisoners were released and de Manthet’s party returned to Montreal.

The consequences of the raids on the Mohawk tribe were significant. Not only did they lose their homes and food, but their standing within the Iroquois Confederacy was weakened. The weakness contributed to the 1701 agreement known as the Great Peace, which ended the Beaver Wars.

Economic Hardship in Massachusetts

The failure of the expeditions to capture Quebec took a severe financial toll on Massachusetts. The colony was around £40,000-50,000 in debt and was forced to issue paper money and raise taxes, leading to an economic depression. 

The Salem Witch Trials Begin

Small towns on the frontier suffered. Some towns were abandoned, while others struggled. In some of them, people turned to blaming the Devil for their troubles. This is considered to be one of the causes of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 , which led to the deaths of 20 people who were accused of practicing witchcraft .

Governor William Phips

William Phips was named Governor of Massachusetts in 1692 and arrived in Boston on May 14. Phips carried with him the new Massachusetts Charter of 1689, which made Massachusetts a Royal Colony.

Phips was informed of the situation in Salem and he ordered a special court to be set up to hear the cases. William Stoughton, the Lieutenant Governor, was appointed to oversee the court. Phips then returned to the business of dealing with the French and focused on building Fort William Henry at present-day Bristol, Maine.

Phips returned to Massachusetts on September 29 and found a total of 20 people had been executed due to the trials. Phips replaced the Court of Oyer and Terniner with a new court and cleared eight people of the accusations.

Stoughton Replaces Phips

The moves damaged Phips’ reputation. He was also accused of misconduct by his political enemies. He was recalled to England by the Lords of Trade on July 4, 1694. However, Phips spent most of the summer in Maine, brokering peace with Indians and overseeing the construction of the fort.

As Phips prepared to leave for England in November, he pardoned everyone that had been accused of witchcraft. William Stoughton replaced him as Governor of Massachusetts.

Raid on Wells — June 10–13

French forces attack Wells, but Captain James Converse leads the defense of the town, driving the attackers away.

Battle of Placentia — September 16–21, 1692

English forces attack Fort St. Louis. The battle lasts for five days and the French are able to repel the attack. The English withdraw on the 21st.

Benjamin Church’s Third Expedition into Acadia

Benjamin Church led his third expedition into Acadia, attacking the settlements of the Penobscot Tribe and the Taconock Tribe.

King William’s War in 1693

French attacks on mohawk villages — february 6.

In January, a French expedition departed from Chambly, intending to attack Mohawk villages on the north bank of the Mohawk River, near present-day Amsterdam, New York. The French forces moved into position on February 5 and launched the first attack on February 6. Word was sent to Peter Schuyler in Albany, who called up the militia. He moved out on February 13 and was joined by nearly 300 Mohawks who survived the attacks.

Battle of Wilton — February 17

Schuyler caught up to the French near present-day Wilton, New York. The French took refuge in a nearby fort and Schuyler built his own fort. The French attacked the English fort three times but failed to capture it or force the English to evacuate. 

After several days, both sides were running low on supplies and food. The French abandoned their fort and headed toward Montreal. 

Schuyler pursued them. When he caught up, the French threatened to kill their prisoners if he attacked. The French released around 50 of their prisoners and then climbed onto sheets of ice, which they used to float across Lake George to safety.

Events in 1693 Affecting the War

1693 — New England raided Port Royal again, causing destruction to residences and food stores.

1693 — English forces recaptured Fort Albany, winning the Second Battle of Fort Albany.

King William’s War in 1694

Raid on oyster river — july 18.

For a second time, French forces attacked the English settlement at present-day Durham, New Hampshire, along the Oyster River. The village was destroyed while at least 100 settlers were killed and nearly 30 were taken as prisoners.

Raid on Groton — July 27

After the attack at Oyster River, the French attacked the town of Groton. It is estimated that 20 settlers were killed and around 15 were taken as prisoners.

Capture of York Factory — October 14

Count Frontenac sent Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville to capture York Factory, which surrendered on October 14. The fort was renamed Fort Bourbon but was recaptured by the English roughly 10 months later.

King William’s War in 1695

By all accounts, the war continued in 1695 but was likely nothing more than raids and skirmishes along the frontier of New France and New England. No major battles or incidents appear to have taken place.

King William’s War in 1696

New france fails to capture boston — july.

In July 1696, the French attacked Fort William Henry. The English garrison surrendered without a fight. With the fort under French control, Frontenac assembled an expedition to attack Boston. 15 French ships sailed for Boston but struggled due to storms and bad weather. Most of the ships ran low on provisions and returned to France. A single ship returned to Quebec to inform Frontenac of the failed expedition.

Second Naval Battle off St. John — July 14

In July, a small fleet of English ships was dispatched to the Bay of Fundy, near present-day Saint John, New Brunswick, to intercept a French supply fleet. The French ships were returning from France to Fort Nashwaak.

On July 5, a Wabanaki party, consisting of Mi’kmaq and Maliseet warriors, attacked the English ships. The attack was coordinated by a Jesuit missionary, Father Florentine. Despite suffering casualties, the English ships were able to continue to the Bay of Fundy.

Nine days later, on the 14th, the French fleet sailed into the bay, under heavy fog. When the two fleets finally saw each other, the battle ensued. The French outgunned the English and won the battle. One English ship was captured and another escaped.

Following the battle, the French ships sailed to Penobscot (Castine, ME), gathered reinforcements, and then sailed to Pemaquid (Bristol, ME) to attack the English garrison at Fort William Henry.

Second Siege of Pemaquid — August 14–15, 1696

The French fleet arrived at Pemaquid and laid siege to the English garrison at Fort William Henry. Wabanaki warriors surrounded the fort, trapping the English inside, allowing the French to move cannons from their ships onto land and place them around the fort.

The English surrendered and the commander of the fort, Captain Pasco Chubb, arranged for his garrison to be escorted to Boston and exchanged for French and Indians who were being held there.

Raid on Chigneto — September 20–29

Responding to the Siege of Pemaquid, Benjamin Church led his fourth expedition into Acadia and attacked Chignecto. His forces laid siege to the town of Beaubassin for 9 days.

Siege of Fort Nashwaak — October 18–20

After the Raid on Chigneto, Church sailed to the French capital of Acadia at present-day Fredericton, New Brunswick. He attacked Fort Nashwaak, but French reinforcements arrived, forcing him to end the siege.

Avalon Peninsula Campaign — November 10, 1696–April 19

Following the destruction of Fort William Henry in August, the French fleet carried out attacks along the coast of Newfoundland, known as the Avalon Peninsula Campaign.

King William’s War in 1697

Raid on haverhill — march 15.

French forces attacked Haverhill, Massachusetts. 27 settlers were killed and 13 were taken as prisoners, including Hannah Duston, Mary Neff, and Samuel Lenorson. They escape one night after killing 10 of their captors. Hannah Duston scalped the victims and the three returned to Haverhill. Duston was awarded £50 for each scalp she carried.

Battle of Hudson Bay — September 5

Also known as the Battle of York Factory. English ships from the Hudson’s Bay Company fought with a small French fleet. The French won and recaptured York Factory.

Battle of Damariscotta — September 9

In the last significant battle of King William’s War, English forces led by Captain John March engaged Wabanaki warriors and defeated them.

The Treaty of Ryswick Ends the Nine Years’ War

Peace was achieved between England and France on September 20, 1697. The two nations agreed to the Treaty of Ryswick, which was just one of a series of treaties that ended the war in Europe.

The provisions of the treaty restored the borders of New France and New England to what they were before the war. Unfortunately, it did not address the border issues between Acadia and New England that contributed to King William’s War.

Although the Nine Years’ War was over, and hostilities ended between the English and French, King William’s War continued. Both the English and French continued to have conflicts with the Wabanaki and the Iroquois.

King William’s War in 1698

Raid on andover — march 4.

Wabanaki forces attacked Andover, Massachusetts. Pasco Chubb, who survived the Siege of Pemaquid in 1696, was living in Andover. The Indians tracked him down and killed him, along with his family.

Raid on Hatfield — July 15

Four Indians attacked a group of men and boys working in fields, killing several of them.

King William’s War Ends in 1699

King William’s War continued until January 7, 1699. On that day, Massachusetts and the Wabanaki agreed to restore peace.

The Iroquois continued to fight the French until 1701, when the Great Peace of Montreal was achieved, ending the Beaver Wars. The treaty was signed by representatives of New France, the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, and 35 additional Indian tribes.

The Next French and Indian War

A year later, the English throne passed to Anne, the younger sister of Mary, when King William III died. 

King Louis XIV, declared the son of James I, who was known as “James the Pretender.” to be the rightful King of England. Louis followed by placing his son, Philip of Anjon, on the throne of Spain. This increased the influence of France in Europe, which was opposed by England.

Europe was once again engulfed in war — the War of Spanish Succession — in 1702. As with King William’s War, the fighting spread to North America and is known as Queen Anne’s War.

King William’s War Significance

King William’s War is important to United States history because it was the first war between England and France for control of North America. It involved the Iroquois Confederacy and the Wabanaki Confederacy. It also crossed over with the Beaver Wars, which were fought to control the Fur Trade in North America. Although the outcome of the war was essentially a stalemate, it set the stage for half a century of wars that would be fought between the English, French, and Indians for control of New England, Canada, and the Ohio Country.

Common Questions About King William’s War

King William’s War was a conflict that took place from 1688 to 1698 in North America. It was fought between New England and New France, along with their respective Native American Indian allies. The war had its roots in the struggle for control over the English throne and religious differences between Catholic New France and predominantly Protestant New England, along with a desire to control the Fur Trade in North America.

King William’s War is the North American theater of the larger conflict known as the Nine Years’ War or the War of the League of Augsburg. While the Nine Years’ War encompassed several European countries, King William’s War specifically refers to the battles and hostilities that occurred between New England and New France, along with their Native American allies. The conflicts were interconnected, with King William’s War being an extension of the war in Europe.

King William’s War is considered to be the First French and Indian War. It involved the French and their Native American allies, the Wabanaki Confederacy, fighting against the English colonists and their Native American allies, the Iroquois Confederacy. The French and Indian Wars were a series of extensive conflicts fought between the English, French, and Indians for control of the eastern portion of North America.

King William’s War APUSH Notes and Study Guide

Use the following links and videos to study the Colonial Era and the 13 Original Colonies for the AP US History Exam. Also, be sure to look at our Guide to the AP US History Exam .

King William’s War APUSH Definition

King William’s War was a conflict that took place primarily from 1689 to 1697, between the English colonies in North America and the French colonies, with involvement from Native American Indian Tribes. It was part of the larger struggle between England and France for dominance in the New World. The war was triggered by King William III’s ascension to the English throne and his alignment with the League of Augsburg against France. The conflict witnessed brutal raids, sieges, and territorial disputes, impacting the trajectory of North America. Despite several attempts to negotiate peace, the war concluded with the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, reinstating the territorial status quo ante bellum. However, underlying tensions persisted, setting the stage for future conflicts like Queen Anne’s War.

King William’s War Video for APUSH Notes

This video provides an overview of King William’s War.

• Written by Randal Rust

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Were Will and Kate Late to the Coronation? The News Media Wonders.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Westminster Abbey after King Charles III, prompting speculation among the many journalists covering the ceremony.

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By Michael M. Grynbaum

• May 6, 2023

Where were the Waleses?

In the down-to-the-minute choreography of Saturday’s coronation, William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, had been expected to arrive outside Westminster Abbey at roughly 10:45 a.m. They would be among the last guests to enter the church before the stars of the show, King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Instead, Charles and Camilla pulled up to the abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and then, rather awkwardly, did not alight. Instead, the royal couple stayed put for about five minutes, as cameras caught an aide conferring with a perplexed-looking Charles about the apparent delay.

Were William and Kate running late? Or was it that the king’s coach had arrived early? None of the hundreds of journalists loitering by the broadcast booths outside Buckingham Palace seemed to know for sure. But for a while, it seemed the Waleses were AWOL.

“We frankly expected to see them before this moment,” Savannah Guthrie of NBC told her “Today” show viewers, although William and Catherine were always scheduled to be among the latest arrivals. “So we will see how all this unfolds.”

Eventually, a car zipped up and deposited William and Catherine and their children — George, Charlotte and Louis — at the abbey.

There was no immediate comment from the relevant parties, and so the reporters were left to speculate. Some TV commentators said they recognized in William and Catherine the harried faces of parents who had just been corralling a brood. Others raised the prospect of a traffic jam, although the surrounding streets had been cleared of cars.

Hours later, it remained unclear if the Waleses had technically been delayed at all. But it wouldn’t be a royal occasion without some gossip.

Michael M. Grynbaum writes about the intersection of media, politics and culture. He has been a media correspondent at The Times since 2016. More about Michael M. Grynbaum

What Happens When Three Senior Royals Are All Absent From Public Duties?

An already coincidentally slimmed down monarchy has temporarily become even slimmer.

When Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace made their dual announcements this week about the health of Kate Middleton and King Charles , the overriding sentiment was shock and thoughts of well-wishes. Particularly in Kate’s case, her abdominal surgery was clearly major with significant time required to recover.

Despite her wish to keep details private, one of the reasons the Palace needed to announce the surgery was the fact that both Kate and William’s pubic timetables will dramatically change as a result. She is not expected to appear until after Easter, there will be no overseas travel from either of them for some time, and William is substantially modifying his workload to care for his wife and children. King Charles will be out of action for a much shorter period , but was still forced to cancel meetings at the last minute and will not appear publicly while he recovers from his prostate procedure.

So, by coincidence, for a short period next week, three senior royals will simultaneously be away from public duties. In an age when the number of working royals has already reduced due to Prince Harry, Meghan, and Prince Andrew stepping away and the elderly Duke of Kent suffering from mobility issues, the only royals left to appear publicly will be Queen Camilla, Princess Anne , the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , and Duke and Duchess of Gloucester .

While there was much talk of plans by Charles for slimmed down monarchy before he came to the throne, as Princess Anne pointed out to Canadian broadcaster CBC News, and as this week emphasizes, there is now little wriggle-room to cut back further. As Anne put it , “Well, I think the ‘slimmed down’ was said in a day when there were a few more people around.”

Next week, the focus will naturally shift to the royals who will still be out and about—with Camilla setting the tone for continuing her engagements in Scotland. But the question of them taking on more of the workload is a different matter. “I think it unlikely that the royal diaries will be revised and engagements added to what’s already been agreed, usually months in advance,” said Joe Little, Managing Editor of Majesty Magazine . “I don’t think we will see more of Edward and Sophie and I don’t think Anne can do any more. But we might see more attention on them.”

While the King’s departure from the world stage will be minimal, the temporary absence of William and Kate with Harry and Meghan off the scene does highlight how scant things now are within that generation. There does not seem to be any desire to employ Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie back into the royal roster. So it is perhaps inevitable that in the near future, even with William and Kate back in action, there will need to be revised expectations of just how much ground can be covered.

However, far from being an unprecedented situation, Little pointed out that this is not the first time the monarchy has found itself with fewer working royals. “In the early years of the Queen’s reign there was a shortage of working royals,” he said. “A young Princess Alexandra started doing engagements at 18 for that reason.”

This is a reminder that in the longer term the monarchy does have options. Just as Queen Elizabeth had four children who were each able to eventually take on a share of public duties, in the fullness of time William and Kate’s three children could all, if desired, do the same.

There is much talk of Charles and William continuing to favor a more streamlined approach for the monarchy (although if royal funding is not scaled back, then there is a question of what kind of value that offers the British people). But William and Kate have also shown us that they are bringing up Prince George , Princess Charlotte , and Prince Louis to all understand their unique positions and the importance of giving back .

Either way, the future of the royal family really is in William, Kate, and their children’s hands. And that’s all the more reason for the Princess of Wales to make sure she takes all the time she needs now to aid her recovery.

Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures , released in 2021. 

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What We Think Will Happen When Prince William Becomes King

While the world was thrust into a state of shock and mourning when news broke that Queen Elizabeth II had died at the age of 96, her eldest son was simultaneously named the new British monarch. Upon her immediate passing, the former Prince of Wales became King Charles III — and while we'll have to wait until May 6, 2023 to witness his coronation — Charles started executing the demands of the office from that tragic moment on.

Charles' early weeks as king have been a bit rocky — there were a few high profile moments with a pen that didn't cast him the most gracious light, and reports about the firing of Elizabeth's staff had many in a tizzy. Of course, the king's tumultuous relationship with the British public has made things far more difficult — his approval rating, YouGov notes, sits at around 44%, as compared to Queen Elizabeth's 73%. Who is sitting in between Charles and that coveted No. 1 approval rating spot? His son, Prince William , and the new Princess of Wales, Catherine .

It's no secret that many would have preferred to see William take the throne rather than his father, who is already 73 years old, as of publication. Calls for a more modern monarchy — coupled with William and Catherine's high approval ratings — have been cast on many occasions, and the public has already begun pondering what a William reign will look like. Given the all but ensured likelihood that William will take the throne in the not too distant future, here's what will happen when he eventually becomes king.

Some think that King Charles will step down by the time he's 80

For many members of the British public — and the world for that matter — it was hard to even think of the British monarchy when Queen Elizabeth II wasn't in charge. She sat on the throne for an impressive 70 years, reaching the advanced age of 96 and working up until two days before her death. She was, without question, dedicated to the crown unlike any other. And while King Charles III could have another two decades in him — taking him to 93 years old — the public might not get to see similar dedication in the same vein as his mother. Even as he took on the monarchy in the immediate wake of his mother's passing, Charles was on the receiving end of public pressure  – far more people wanted (and still want) to see Prince William, Prince of Wales, as king, skipping Charles almost entirely.

And, while the monarchy seldom bows to public pressure, the late queen was said to have put a plan in motion to ensure her son steps down from the throne by the time he turns 80. A high ranking royal source told OK! Magazine that Elizabeth "devised a specific plan" before her death, ensuring that the monarchy would survive far past a possibly tumultuous Charles reign.

"Her Majesty isn't certain her family is up to the job of guiding Britain for the next 100 years," the source said, adding that she had a "no nonsense" meeting with the royals to ensure Charles doesn't rule past his 80th birthday.

If Charles abdicates, William will immediately become king

Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history with her impressive 70 years on the throne — for then-Prince Charles, that meant that as the heir apparent, he watched his mother serve decade after decade, the throne so close yet still so far. Now that he's 73 as of publication, Charles will surely have a much shorter time on the throne as compared to his mother — and if the queen's plans have any impact, he won't be ruling for longer than seven years or so.

But abdicating is a big thing when it comes to royal precedence, and giving up the crown to Prince William is something that King Charles III won't consider lightly. Reader's Digest firmly pointed out that abdication doesn't just mean retiring from the throne or taking on a lighter royal workload. Abdicating the throne is an adverse signaling of renouncement, all but rejecting the duties of the office — something that Charles likely won't want to embrace.

Of course, royal abdication has a rather sordid history. The last person to abdicate the throne was King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II's uncle. Giving up the crown so he could marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson, Elizabeth's father, King George VI, was all but forced to rule. With this rather painful history, time will tell if Charles does give up the throne to William, which would make him one of the younger rulers in modern royal history.

William will have a coronation months after he takes the throne

When Prince William, Prince of Wales, does eventually take the throne — whether that's through an act of abdication on King Charles III's part or in the event of Charles' death — he will immediately be named king. As you may recall, Charles became king as soon as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died. Formalities — even the national anthem — were changed in the direct aftermath, shifting royal allegiances from the late queen to the new king.

In the event that William takes the throne, he will receive the title of king along with the responsibilities of the crown, but his actual coronation will likely take place months after. This will be the case for a variety of reasons — if William becomes king due to Charles' death, a national mourning period will follow, making an immediate coronation a bit inappropriate. Furthermore, a coronation takes ample planning and cannot be thrown together in a matter of weeks — it's an affair that takes months, if not years, to plan, so time is certainly needed to get everything right.

In fact, as of publication, King Charles III has yet to enjoy a coronation. As noted by the Daily Mail , Charles's coronation — known as Operation Golden Orb — is set to take place on May 6, 2023, almost eight months after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Catherine will likely become queen consort

Quite a lot of attention was paid to Camilla Parker Bowles' title when she married then-Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, in 2005. As noted by Town & Country , it was announced at the time of the wedding that Camilla would take on the title of princess consort following her husband's ascension to the throne — it should of course be noted that Camilla had (and still has) a fairly low approval rating, as much of the public still see her as the "other woman" in the relationship between Charles and the late Diana Spencer. But, amid her Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II announced that Camilla would instead take the title of queen consort, a rather significant jump. She is now colloquially referred to as Queen Camilla now that King Charles III is the reigning monarch, setting a precedent that Catherine, Princess of Wales, will surely follow.

As noted by Parade , Catherine — who married Prince William in 2011 — will most likely be named queen consort when her husband takes the throne. Why the "consort" designation? Consort is given to those who are royal by marriage, not royal by blood. Catherine, born to a wealthy but title-free family, was not royal until her wedding and as such will likely have the consort attachment. But, Parade notes, she will likely be called Queen Catherine by the public. If William were to die before Catherine and their eldest son — Prince George of Wales — was to take the throne, Catherine would likely be named the queen mother.

Prince George of Wales will be the direct heir to the throne

King Charles III has spent the majority of his life waiting to assume the throne. At 73 years old and having only just taken on the role, Charles is finally fulfilling a role that he's been preparing for since he was practically in diapers. As for Prince William, Charles' eldest son had been second in line to the throne for his entire life, but his position in the line of succession changed significantly when Queen Elizabeth II died.

William is now the direct heir to the throne. When Charles dies or abdicates (whichever comes first), William will become king, and his son, Prince George of Wales, will become the direct heir to the throne . George is only 9 years old as of publication and is already second in line to the throne, but the attention paid on the direct heir is quite a bit different — the direct heir, in many ways, represents the future of the monarchy. That's quite a lot of pressure to place on a kid still in elementary school.

So does George know that the future of Britain's monarchy will likely rest on his shoulders at some point during his lifetime? According to royal historian and writer Robert Lacey, William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, broke the news to him around his 7th birthday. "Sometime around the boy's seventh birthday in the summer of 2020 it is thought that his parents went into more detail about what the little prince's life of future royal 'service and duty' would particularly involve," Lacey asserted, per  Marie Claire .

Thanks to an act passed in 2013, Princess Charlotte will ensure her spot in the line of succession

The line of royal succession can get a little bit complicated, but when Prince William inevitably becomes king, his daughter, Princess Charlotte , will become second in line to the throne. As things stand now, William is the direct heir; his son, Prince George, is second in line; and Charlotte is third in line. However, it is only thanks to an act passed in 2013 that Charlotte won't be circumvented in the succession line, and we're here to break it all down.

King Charles was, of course, the direct heir to the British throne for decades. When she was born, Princess Anne — Charles's younger sister and Queen Elizabeth II's second eldest child — was directly behind him. But when Elizabeth had Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, the two younger siblings jumped ahead of Anne in the line of succession, all thanks to her gender. As Charles, Andrew, and Edward had children of their own, Anne's place in line continued to get pushed back — as it stands, Anne is 16th in line to the throne, despite being Elizabeth's second-eldest child.

Thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act , William's daughter, Charlotte, will maintain her spot in the royal line, unlike Anne. If and when her older brother, George, has children of his own, her place will start to drop, but the shift she may experience won't be nearly as severe.

William will have to choose a ruling name

In one of the more famous scenes from Netflix's hit series "The Crown," the fictional Elizabeth is asked what she'd like her regnal name to be. "Let's not overcomplicate matters unnecessarily," the on-screen monarch attests. "My name is Elizabeth." Of course, the scene got to the heart of a topic Prince William will have to address when he becomes king — what name he would like to be called.

When we look back in time, it can be easily identified that royal names have changed (although the shifts do cause a little bit of confusion). As noted by The Washington Post , King George VI — Elizabeth's father — was named Albert Frederick Arthur George at birth. Yet, when it came time for him to assume the throne, he went by George as a nod to his father. But of course, Queen Elizabeth II chose to maintain her birth name as ruler, as has King Charles III. The Washington Post further noted that this came as a little bit of a surprise, given that King Charles I was seen as a "tyrant" and King Charles II had quite the "playboy" reputation.

So, when William inevitably takes the throne, he will have to decide whether he wants to maintain his name or choose a different moniker. As noted by Britannica , he was born William Arthur Philip Louis, so he does have three other names to choose from if he wishes.

The new king will likely travel across Great Britain and meet with Commonwealth leaders

As his role as direct heir to the British throne stands, Prince William makes his dedication to the crown known through his work as a senior royal. He and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, are often seen at public events that support charities, organizations, and causes they care about. They also represent the crown and the royal family as a whole on international trips — although their Caribbean tour in early 2022 was a bit of a disaster. But, when William becomes king, his duties will expand quite significantly as he will be expected to travel to Commonwealth countries and regularly meet with leaders.

As noted by Town & Country , one of the first aspects of the job that King Charles III executed — even in the immediate wake of his mother's passing — was meeting with Commonwealth representatives. The newly named king also traveled around Great Britain , meeting with mourners and uniting the country as it experienced the passing of a beloved monarch. William will likely be expected to do the same — and given that he will most definitely be younger than his father when he assumes the throne, the virile new king may even be expected to hit the road often.

Of course, it will be quite a bit easier for William to travel as compared to us commonplace folks. As noted by Express , William will no longer need a passport when he becomes king — no pesky customs and immigration for him.

Catherine's access to the crown jewels will change dramatically

When we think about life as a royal in the general sense, thoughts of castles, crowns, and ballgowns immediately spring to mind. While life as a working royal has far more to do with charity and volunteer work than parading around in a tiara, those with access to the crown jewels — and the late Queen Elizabeth II's jewelry collection — certainly dazzle on occasion. This brings us to William, Prince of Wales, and his eventual assumption of the throne. When William succeeds his father, William's wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, will have complete access to the crown jewels. Paying attention to royal etiquette, of course, it's likely that royal fans will see Catherine in some incredible jewels, Cafe Mom notes.

As Historic Royal Palaces points out, the crown jewels collection is made up of more than 100 individual items, comprised of 23,000 gemstones and counting. As one may assume, the crown jewels are priceless, as historical objects, cultural pieces, and extraordinary stones make up the body of work.

As queen consort, Catherine will likely continue to incorporate pieces of jewelry gifted to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II, but will surely take advantage of the access she will have to the extraordinary collection. After all, what is royal life without a dazzling tiara to top off a once-in-a-lifetime gown?

The king and queen consort will likely move to Buckingham Palace

Perhaps one of the most visited sites in London is Buckingham Palace, naturally, given its central location and prominent position as the dominant home for ruling royals. Queen Elizabeth II — when not at Windsor or Scotland's Balmoral Castle — spent a significant amount of time at Buckingham Palace, allowing for regular audiences with prime ministers, official events, and more royal duties to take place. As such, it is likely that when Prince William takes the throne, he and his family will move onto the Buckingham Palace grounds.

The subject of where William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, live has been in the news recently given their departure from London's Kensington Palace in the summer of 2022. Opting for a quieter life in the country, William and Catherine decided on Windsor as their primary residence, allowing their children more privacy and a school life not encumbered by prying paparazzi, NBC News notes. It should be included, however, that William and Catherine have retained their Kensington and Norfolk mansion properties — one incredible home is simply not enough for a royal family.

Despite their current residence at Windsor, the Wales family will likely relocate when William eventually takes the throne, allowing him to be far more present and readily available for any and all royal duties.

The royal family could become even more condensed after William takes the throne

The royal family, as it stands, has a number of stars. Prince William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, are just a few of the family members who dominate the headlines — and are positively rivaled by Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, will continue to have their 1980s infidelity story told as long as they are alive, and positively disgraced royals — one Prince Andrew comes to mind — will always remain a dark stain on the family's reputation. With so many moving parts — and so much drama to keep at bay — it didn't come as a huge shock to learn that even before taking the throne, King Charles III had plans to make the royal family considerably smaller.

"The king has long been an advocate of a streamlined or slimmed down monarchy," a source told The Mirror of Charles' plans to consolidate a much smaller circle of senior royals. And while we're still in the early days of his reign as of publication, it's likely that we'll see a continuation of Charles' boundaries during William's reign.

Of course, one only has to look at William's ongoing feud with his younger brother, Harry, to get a sense of where allegiances lie. While Harry has made it clear that he prioritizes his wife, children, and mental health above all else, William has displayed his dedication to the crown. It is likely this perspective will be maintained — and perhaps increased — over time.

Prince William back to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation

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Prince William Revealed the Promise He Made to Kate Middleton Amid Her Cancer Diagnosis

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In his first public outing since his wife announced her cancer diagnosis, volunteers at a charity event got to hear Prince William’s Kate Middleton cancer update firsthand—and now, reporters are sharing the rare comment made by the Prince of Wales for the rest of us.

On April 18, 2024, Prince William visited Surplus to Supper in Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey, England, marking his first royal outing since his wife, Princess Kate Middleton, announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. At the charity event, a volunteer handed him cards addressed to Kate and King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatments at this time, prompting a brief yet impactful exchange.

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In a video shared on X by Lizzie Robinson of ITN, William thanked the volunteer for the cards. “Oh, some cards, you’re very kind. Thank you very much,” he said, before making a promise for his wife. When told to “look after” the Princess of Wales by the volunteer, the Prince of Wales didn’t hesitate to reply. “I will,” he vowed.

Volunteer Rachel Candappa gives the Prince of Wales cards for the King and Princess of Wales during his visit to Surplus for Supper. pic.twitter.com/ruGBiWXcLt — Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) April 18, 2024

Princess Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis on March 22, 2024, in a video shared with media outlets and on social media. Her diagnosis came shortly after undergoing a planned abdominal surgery in January 2024. Although the surgery was successful, post-operative tests showed the presence of cancer, prompting her medical team to recommend preventative chemotherapy. In her announcement, the Princess of Wales shared that she was still in the early stages of this treatment.

She also described how she explained her diagnosis to her three children— Prince George , Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis . “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK,” she shared. “As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.”

The Princess of Wales also expressed her gratitude for the support she has received, making a special shout out to her husband during this time of uncertainty. “Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too,” she said. “As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.” Kate mentioned that while she looks forward to returning to her royal duties when she is able, for now, her focus is on making a full recovery—and it looks like William is committed to staying by her side every step of the way.

After the palace announced his father’s cancer diagnosis in February 2024, Prince William also expressed his thanks for the supportive supportive messages sent to his family—both on behalf of the king, and his wife Kate, who was continuing to recover from her abdominal surgery at the time.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all,” he said during his speech at London’s Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner on February 7, 2024, per People . He also brought a touch of levity to the otherwise serious set circumstances faced by the royal family: “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus,” he said. “So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!”

While William has yet share any additional public statements about his father or wife’s cancer treatments since then, resuming his royal duties appears to signal a return to a sense of normalcy for the royal family—and there’s hopefully more to come.

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UK’s Prince William returns to public duties for first time since Kate’s cancer diagnosis

Britain’s Prince William is greeted as he arrives for a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Britain’s Prince William cuts celery as he helps to make a bolognase sauce during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Britain’s Prince William is shown items by Claire Hopkins, Operations Director, right, during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

FILE - Prince William arrives to attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey in London, on March 11, 2024. Prince William is returning to public duties for the first time since his wife’s cancer diagnosis. He will be bolstering the royal family’s ranks as health problems continue to sideline the Princess of Wales and King Charles III. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Britain’s Prince William sits in a delivery van during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Britain’s Prince William helps to loads trays of food into vans during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Britain’s Prince William talks to van drivers during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Britain’s Prince William is given cards for his wife Kate, The Princess of Wales by volunteer Rachel Candappa during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

Britain’s Prince William meets workers during a visit to Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Prince visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity, to learn about its work bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Surrey and West London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, pool)

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LONDON (AP) — Prince William returned to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife’s cancer diagnosis , bolstering the royal family’s ranks as health problems continue to sideline the princess and King Charles III .

William visited a surplus food redistribution center and a youth club it serves, highlighting efforts to reduce food waste as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and feed people in need. The prince stepped away from public duties after Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced on March 22 that she was undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer.

In a video message released that day, Kate asked for “time, space and privacy” as she and her family adjusted to her diagnosis.

“I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she said at the time.

“It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be okay,” she added.

Both Charles and Kate have been largely absent from the public stage since January due to health problems, leaving Queen Camilla , Princess Anne and other members of the royal family to pick up the slack on the whirl of events and awards ceremonies that dominate the work of Britain’s monarchy.

Charles announced on Feb. 5 that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer following treatment for an enlarged prostate two weeks earlier. Kate’s diagnosis came after she was hospitalized in late January for unspecified abdominal surgery.

William visited a surplus food distribution charity — Surplus to Supper — in Surrey, southwest of London, where he will lend a hand in the kitchen and help load prepared meals into delivery vans. He will then travel to a youth center in west London that benefits from the food deliveries.

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/royalty

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Kaiser Wilhelm II

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 1, 2019 | Original: April 14, 2010

Wilhelm II (1859-1941), the German kaiser (emperor) and king of Prussia from 1888 to 1918, was one of the most recognizable public figures of World War I (1914-18). He gained a reputation as a swaggering militarist through his speeches and ill-advised newspaper interviews. While Wilhelm did not actively seek war, and tried to hold back his generals from mobilizing the German army in the summer of 1914, his verbal outbursts and his open enjoyment of the title of Supreme War Lord helped bolster the case of those who blamed him for the conflict. His role in the conduct of the war as well as his responsibility for its outbreak is still controversial.

Some historians maintain that Wilhelm was controlled by his generals, while others argue that he retained considerable political power. In late 1918, he was forced to abdicate. He spent the rest of his life in exile in the Netherlands, where he died at age 82.

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Early Years

Kaiser Wilhelm II was born in Potsdam, Germany, on January 27, 1859, the son of Prince Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia (1831-88) and Princess Victoria (1840-1901), the oldest daughter of Queen Victoria  (1819-1901). The future monarch was the queen’s firstborn grandchild and was genuinely fond of her; in fact, he was holding her in his arms when she died. His ties to Britain through its royal family would play an important part in his later political maneuvering.

Did you know? Kaiser Wilhelm II was reportedly amused when he heard his cousin King George V (1865-1936) had changed the name of the British royal family from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917 as a result of anti-German sentiment in Britain during World War I.

Wilhelm’s childhood was shaped by two events, one medical and one political. His birth had been traumatic; in the course of a complicated delivery, the doctor permanently damaged Wilhelm’s left arm. In addition to its smaller size, the arm was useless for such ordinary tasks as cutting certain foods with a knife at mealtime.

The political event that shaped Wilhelm was the formation of the German Empire under the leadership of Prussia in 1871. Wilhelm was now second in line after his father to become an emperor as well as king of Prussia. Twelve years old at the time, Wilhelm was filled with nationalistic enthusiasm. His later determination to win a “place in the sun” for Germany had its roots in his childhood.

An intelligent young man who possessed a lifelong interest in science and technology, Wilhelm was educated at the University of Bonn. His quick mind, however, was combined with an even quicker temper and an impulsive, high-strung personality. He had dysfunctional relationships with both parents, particularly his English mother. Historians still debate the effects of the kaiser’s complicated psychological makeup on his political decisions.

In 1881, Wilhelm married Princess Augusta Victoria (1858-1921) of Schleswig-Holstein. The couple would go on to have seven children.

Emperor and King: 1888

Wilhelm’s father became Kaiser Frederick III of Germany in March 1888. Already ill with terminal throat cancer, he died after a reign of only several months. Wilhelm succeeded his father on June 15, 1888, at the age of 29. Within two years of his coronation, Wilhelm broke with Otto von Bismarck (1815-98), the “Iron Chancellor” who had dominated German politics since the 1860s. The kaiser embarked on his so-called New Course, a period of personal rule in which he appointed chancellors who were upper-level civil servants rather than statesmen. Bismarck bitterly predicted that Wilhelm would lead Germany to ruin.

Wilhelm damaged his political position in a number of ways. He meddled in German foreign policy on the basis of his emotions, resulting in incoherence and inconsistency in German relations with other nations. He also made a number of public blunders, the worst of which was The Daily Telegraph affair of 1908. Wilhelm gave an interview to the London-based newspaper in which he offended the British by saying such things as: “You English are mad, mad, mad as March hares.” The kaiser had already been hurt politically in 1907 by the Eulenburg-Harden affair, in which members of his circle of friends were accused of being homosexuals. Although there is no evidence that Wilhelm was gay–in addition to his seven children with his first wife, he was rumored to have several illegitimate offspring–the scandal was used by his political opponents to weaken his influence.

Wilhelm’s most important contribution to Germany’s prewar military expansion was his commitment to creating a navy to rival Britain’s. His childhood visits to his British cousins had given him a love for the sea–sailing was one of his favorite recreations–and his envy of the power of the British navy convinced him that Germany must build a large fleet of its own in order to fulfill its destiny. The kaiser supported the plans of Alfred von Tirpitz (1849-1930), his chief admiral, who maintained that Germany could gain diplomatic power over Britain by stationing a fleet of warships in the North Sea. By 1914, however, the naval buildup had caused severe financial problems for Wilhelm’s government.

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Kaiser Wilhelm II and World War I

Wilhelm’s behavior during the crisis that led to war in August 1914 is still controversial. There is little doubt that he had been broken psychologically by the criticism that followed the Eulenburg-Harden and Daily Telegraph scandals; he suffered an episode of depression in 1908. In addition, the kaiser was out of touch with the realities of international politics in 1914; he thought that his blood relationships to other European monarchs were sufficient to manage the crisis that followed the June 1914 assassination of the Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Although Wilhelm signed the order for German mobilization following pressure from his generals–Germany declared war against Russia and France during the first week of August 1914– he is reported to have said, “You will regret this, gentlemen.”

With World War I under way, the kaiser, as commander in chief of the German armed forces, retained the power to make upper-level changes in military command. Nonetheless, he was largely a shadow monarch during the war, useful to his generals as a public-relations figure who toured the front lines and handed out medals. After 1916, Germany was, in effect, a military dictatorship dominated by two generals, Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934) and Erich Ludendorff (1865-1937).

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Years of Exile

In late 1918, popular unrest in Germany (which had suffered greatly during the war) combined with a naval mutiny convinced civilian political leaders that the kaiser had to abdicate to preserve order. In fact, Wilhelm’s abdication was announced on November 9, 1918, before he had actually consented to it. He agreed to leave when the leaders of the army told him he had lost their support as well. On November 10, the former emperor took a train across the border into the Netherlands, which had remained neutral throughout the war. He eventually bought a manor house in the town of Doorn, and remained there for the remainder of his life.

Although the Allies wanted to punish Wilhelm as a war criminal, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880-1962) refused to extradite him. His last years were darkened by the death of his first wife and the suicide of his youngest son in 1920. He did, however, make a happy second marriage in 1922. His new wife, Hermine Reuss (1887-1947), actively petitioned German leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) in the early 1930s to restore the monarchy, but nothing ever came of her negotiations. Hitler despised the man he held responsible for Germany’s defeat in World War I, and Wilhelm was shocked by the Nazis’ thuggish tactics. In 1938, Wilhelm remarked that for the first time he was ashamed to be a German. After two decades in exile, he died in the Netherlands on June 4, 1941, at the age of 82.

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Britain's Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a US resident

L ONDON (AP) — Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.

Four years after Harry and his American wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, decamped to a villa in Southern California, a travel company he controls filed paperwork this week informing British authorities that he has moved and is now “usually resident” in the United States.

The formal acknowledgment underscores the prince’s increasing estrangement from Britain, after he and Meghan walked away from royal duties to pursue lucrative media deals in America. Since then, Harry has repeatedly criticized the royal family, including allegations of unconscious racism that were included in a Netflix series and the prince’s autobiography, “Spare.”

The paperwork was filed by Travalyst Ltd, a company at least 75% owned by Harry and which was founded in 2020 to “to promote global awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism.” The documentation was received Monday by Companies House, the government agency that oversees the incorporation of U.K. companies.

The filing further separates Harry from his role as one of the king’s counselors of state — members of the royal family who can be deputized to carry out the duties of the monarch if he is unwell or out of the country.

While Harry formally remains a counselor of state, the crown informed Parliament in 2022 that “in practice” only working members of the royal family would be called upon to fill in for the monarch.

Although Harry and Meghan, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have put down roots in the wealthy enclave of Montecito, where they are raising their young son and daughter, Harry is also facing scrutiny about his U.S. residency.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has questioned the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to grant Harry a U.S. visa following admissions of drug use that were included in “Spare.”

The foundation, which has asked a judge to force the department to release Harry’s immigration file, argues that the prince either lied on his visa application or was given special treatment because a history of drug use would normally disqualify an applicant from being granted a visa.

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Prince William Steps Out for First Royal Duty Since Wife Kate Middleton's Cancer News

The Prince of Wales, who is helping care for Princess Kate as she undergoes her treatment, took time off amid their children's school break

Prince William is back on royal duty.

The Prince of Wales, 41, stepped out on April 18 for his first official duty since his wife,  Kate Middleton , told the world of her  cancer diagnosis .

William used the morning to showcase the work of community and environmental organizations in Surrey and West London as they tackle food waste. He began the day in Sunbury-on-Thames to see how a food distribution charity called Surplus to Supper delivers, sorts and repackages unused food to community groups. His second port of call was to a youth center that receives regular deliveries of surplus food and distributes it to those in need, the Hanworth Centre Hub .

The day highlighted Prince William's desire to build a waste-free world, a key template for the royal's environmental project, the Earthshot Prize . Tackling food waste and using surplus food is also something that his father,  King Charles , has spotlighted since his  coronation in 2023 .

After putting on an apron to help a team of chefs prepare meals in the kitchen at the Surplus to Supper base at Sunbury Cricket Club, William was handed a couple of get-well cards for Kate and his father King Charles by volunteer Rachel Candappa.

William told her, "You're very kind, thank you very much," according to a post by ITN's Lizzie Robinson.

At his second stop of the day to the Hanworth Centre Hub, a youth center that provides services to create a safer and better-connected community and receives a regular delivery from Surplus to Supper, Prince William got work.

Siobhan Donoghue, CEO of Perfectly Imperfect , one of the groups that receive provisions from Surplus to Supper, tells PEOPLE, "He didn't want to hand the crate to anybody. We had a volunteer there, and William said, 'No, no. I’m here to help.' He was adamant to do what those staff for us every single week."

"He wanted to be part of their true experience. which was very important for him," she adds. "He’s a normal person and very down to earth — so much so that when staff and some of the others asked for selfies after the media had gone, he said, 'Of course.' He was really up for taking pictures in that style which typically you wouldn’t expect but he is very down to earth, and he was very happy for that to happen."

Alastair Grant-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Perfectly Imperfect works with young people on mental health and violence reduction in West London. Through their partnership with Surplus to Supper, they direct some of the food they receive into the community towards the families of the young people who use their services. It also helps them with keeping costs down, enabling their core work to go further.

Donoghue says, “It’s a real lifesaver."

The hub is set up as a welcoming safe space for young people, some of whom have faced challenges and adversity, and supports them to help build confidence and new skills to serve them well in the future. One of the initiatives is a mental health drop-in session called Well Connected, where young people take part in creative and fitness activities.

AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Liv Cobb, 13, is one of the young people who takes part in the weekly creative group, and she sat with William during his visit.

"It wasn’t him as such, but the cameras which were intimidating,” she tells PEOPLE of the experience. “He was really respectful. He seemed quite interested to know a bit more and asked what things we do and how often we come here."

"He seemed interested in what we were doing, he cared. He was just really nice," she adds.

Donoghue adds that Prince William’s visit was a real boost to the hub and the community groups based there.

"We’re such a small organization and really don’t focus on publicizing ourselves and not good on social media because we’re so busy working on the ground and doing what we do," she says. "There is no rest. Organizations like ours do need this kind of exposure to be able to survive in a climate where we are all trying to go for funding."

She understands that one reason the Prince of Wales was interested in coming to them was the mental health support that her group provides, through initiatives like the Well Connected Group.

"That is a big deal for him and Kate," Donoghue explains. "The fact that the food helps organizations like us so we can spend more resources and services directly to the young people and families we work with."

Donoghue adds, "He’s got a very relaxed energy about him that puts everybody at ease. He’s asking everyday questions. There wasn’t the expectation for us to be anybody else but ourselves — the young people, the staff and volunteers all felt that as well.”

In a moving video message released on March 22, Princess Kate, 42, announced she is receiving treatment after an unspecified cancer was detected following her Jan. 16  abdominal surgery .

The revelation came as the couple's three children —  Prince George , 10,  Princess Charlotte , 8, and  Prince Louis , 5 — started a school break surrounding the Easter holiday, giving the family a chance to privately spend time together after the public announcement. Prince William also  postponed public duties  following his wife’s health announcement and during their children’s school vacation. The parents of three usually keep royal engagements to a minimum to spend time with their children during school breaks.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson previously said the Prince of Wales "will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since the start of the year."

It's unknown how long the Princess of Wales will be away from public duty amid her treatment, but she might join family events as and when she feels able to, palace sources said.

In her video message announcing her health news, Kate said that her husband of nearly 13 years was " a great source of comfort  and reassurance."

"This is about supporting her and her feeling supported. It is a joint effort. She doesn’t feel isolated at all," a family friend told PEOPLE.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

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"[The royal family] is vulnerable at the moment, and there will be an even greater appreciation that they are human beings with frailties like the rest of us," a former palace aide told PEOPLE in March. "They are so dedicated to their roles. I think you will find when Kate makes a full recovery, she will come back even more passionate."

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Royal History Mystery: What happened to William II?

Today we’re looking at a royal history mystery involving the death of a king. What happened to William II of England?

As the third son of William the Conqueror, William II had already made his mark before he even became king. His exact date of birth is not known but it is accepted that it took place around 1056 in Normandy, France. He had two older brothers, Robert Curthose and Richard, and a younger brother named Henry. His early years aren’t covered in great detail by chroniclers of the time although as the reign of William the Conqueror went on, his relationships with all his sons went through strained times.

Upon his death in 1087, William I bequeathed the Duchy of Normandy to his eldest son, Robert Curthose, and the throne of England to William (Richard had been killed in a hunting accident in the New Forest sometime in 1075). William II’s coronation was held on 26 September 1087. The youngest son, Henry, received 5,000 pounds of sterling silver and the English estates of his mother, Queen Matilda’.

There was no love lost between William II and his older brother and in 1088 the nobles of England and Normandy mounted a rebellion to unify the kingdom and the duchy with a single ruler over both—they favoured Robert. William was, however, able to gain the trust and support of the English lords by promising them resources as well as administrative changes and his cause was helped by the fact that Robert never crossed the channel to England to shore up support.

William went on to invade Normandy in 1091 and gained some lands there, but agreed later to help Robert when he went on the First Crusade in 1096. Robert mortgaged the duchy to William II and the brothers—both unmarried and childless—agreed that if either died without issue, they’d unite the kingdom and the duchy under one ruler: the surviving brother. While Robert was away on the First Crusade, William II acted as his regent.

William II also fought against the Scots, staving off an invasion in 1091 and forcing Malcolm III, the King of the Scots, to acknowledge his rule. In 1093, another Scottish revolt led to Malcolm III’s death and William II maintaining Scottish kings as vassals.

His reign was marked by battles, both temporal and with the church in England. However, he never gave any real indication of intending to marry or produce heirs. He was but he never moved to marry or produce heirs, and on On 2 August 1100, William II decided to go on a hunting trip in the New Forest where he met his end.

What Happened to William II?

While hunting that August day, he was shot through the lung with an arrow and succumbed to his injuries. His hunting party included Sir Walter Tyrell, often considered to be the man who made the fatal shot. Also present were William’s younger brother, Henry, and several other noblemen.

The story goes that William II was separated from the rest of the group while chasing a stag and when he missed with his arrow, he commanded Tyrell to aim and shoot. The arrow struck the king instead and killed him.

At the time, William II’s death was viewed as an unfortunate accident but there were whispers that he had been murdered on the orders of Henry, who promptly seized the English throne.

At any rate, William II’s body was left in the New Forest while Henry rode to Winchester to claim the throne and seize the royal treasury. Tyrell fled to France aboard a ship. The other noblemen rode back to their homes to ensure their property was intact after the death of the king and the crowning of a new one. A peasant found William II’s body several days later and carried his body, aboard a cart, to Winchester Cathedral where he was buried without pomp.

The place where William II is said to have died is marked with the Rufus Stone (named as such because William II’s nickname during his lifetime was William Rufus for his ruddy complexion and red hair). The stone reads:

“Here stood the oak tree, on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell at a stag, glanced and struck King William the Second, surnamed Rufus, on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second day of August, anno 1100.

“King William the Second, surnamed Rufus being slain, as before related, was laid in a cart, belonging to one Purkis, and drawn from hence, to Winchester, and buried in the Cathedral Church of that city.

“That the spot where an event so memorable might not hereafter be forgotten, the enclosed stone was set up by John Lord Delaware who had seen the tree growing in this place. This stone having been much mutilated, and the inscriptions on each of its three sides defaced. This more durable memorial with the original inscriptions was erected in the year 1841, by WM Sturges Bourne, Warden.”

Whether a simple hunting accident or an assassination attempt, the truth behind William II’s death has never been confirmed.

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