Cops have charged Will’s best pal Dylan Thomas, 23, with murder and he is due to appear in court next month.
William was found with serious injuries in a car park nearby Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, at around 11.30am on Christmas Eve.
His heartbroken family — English teacher dad John, 61, mum Elizabeth, 63, sister Catrin and brother Alexander — have paid tribute to the keen rugby player and golfer.
The family, who live in Brecon, South Wales, said: “Our beloved Will was taken away from us in such a cruel and indescribable way.
“Will was such a loyal, funny and caring son, brother and boyfriend.”
Flowers and heartfelt messages have also been laid at the scene, which remained cordoned off with police tape last week.
William, who was working as a surveyor with a commercial property firm, and Thomas had attended the private Christ College in Brecon.
They were said to have been best mates and lived together in a terraced house — owned by Thomas’ grandparents and Welsh rugby great Sir Gareth Edwards.
Thomas, a computer programmer, is the grandson of Sir Gilbert Stanley Thomas – and the heir to a £230million pie industry fortune, including Peter’s Pies.
Sir Stanley Thomas, 82, was knighted in 2006 for his charity work and services to business.
His father, also called Stanley Thomas, started selling meat pies in Merthyr Tydfil in the Welsh Valleys.
The business, Peter’s Savoury Products, was sold for £75million in 1988.
His family also owned a fifth share of the TBI group, which owned several airports, including Cardiff.
Thomas had been due to appear at Cardiff crown court on January 2.
He was remanded in custody in his absence and is due to appear before the court again on February 2.
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