Prince William has been turning heads together with his rugged beard, a daring departure from his typical clean-shaven look.
This new type, which debuted in August, has sparked comparisons to his father, King Charles, who additionally embraced facial hair throughout his youthful years.
Back within the Nineteen Seventies, the then-Prince of Wales grew a beard whereas serving within the Royal Navy. Charles started his naval profession in 1971, enrolling in a six-week course on the Royal Naval College Dartmouth, reported Mirror.
His service included time aboard the guided-missile destroyer HMS Norfolk and the frigates HMS Minerva and HMS Jupiter, culminating in 1974 when he earned his helicopter pilot qualification. His bearded look throughout this era grew to become a notable a part of his naval picture.
As for William, his beard hasn’t received over everybody within the household. During a latest go to to Cape Town, he shared a light-hearted anecdote about his daughter, Princess Charlotte, who wasn’t initially thrilled together with his new look.
“Charlotte didn’t prefer it in any respect the primary time I grew it,” he confessed. “She was in tears, so I shaved it off. This time, I needed to persuade her it was okay.”
William’s beard coincides with a historic shift within the British Army’s grooming insurance policies. In March 2024, the longstanding ban on beards was lifted, permitting troopers and officers to sport facial hair so long as it’s neat and well-maintained.
This change has stirred reminiscences of previous royal grooming debates, together with stories that Prince Harry’s wedding-day beard in 2018 prompted some friction between the brothers.
