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David Prince

Prince William at 40: The Duke of Cambridge's first ever official engagement in Cardiff

Who can believe that Prince William turns 40 in June? It seems just yesterday that the first son of Prince Charles and the late Diana was a young boy.

Indeed he was just eight years old when he carried out his first official engagement in Wales back in March 1991 - and crowds flocked to see him.

And very aptly his visit to Cardiff took place on St David's Day.

Prince William wearing a daffodil (Mirrorpix)

While he might have only been a child, the young Prince William had already mastered the fine art of the Royal walkabout.

Read more: The massive crowds that gathered 40 years ago to see the Pope in Cardiff

Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Charles walking through crowds of fans as they attend a thanksgiving service in Llandaff Cathedral (Mirrorpix)

The prince waved and smiled and readily accepted dozens of daffodils given to him outside Llandaff Catherdral.

William showed hardly a trace of nerves as he accompanied the Prince and Princess of Wales for a thanksgiving service for the cathedral's restoration.

Princess Diana and Prince William signed their names in the visitors' book at Llandaff Cathedral (Mirrorpix)
Prince William signed his name in the visitor's book of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. It was William's first official public engagement. Taken 1st March 1991. (Mirrorpix)

The Princess and William then travelled to St David's Hall for a Welsh entertainment show watched by the 2,000-strong audience inside and hundreds more on a video screen outside.

Princess Diana and Prince William standing in front of a Welsh Orchestra at St David's Hall (Mirrorpix)

Then to the cheers of the huge crowd, William appeared on the hall balcony with his mother to pull the lever unveiling the symbol of the campaign to promote Cardiff worldwide.

Princess Diana smiles as she leads Prince William after meeting crowds in Cardiff (Mirrorpix)

After another walkabout in The Hayes, the Princess and William were driven away to RAF St Athans to meet 40 wives and parents of servicemen in the Gulf.

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