When you think royal facial hair, you probably think of Prince Harry. That's understandable. The ginger prince has been rocking a beard regularly since 2015. It's his signature look. He even got special permission from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to sport his signature scruff during his wedding to Meghan Markle in May.
But, while Harry might have fallen in love with his beard and decided to keep it around longterm, he's far from the only royal to experiment with facial hair. In fact, Harry's older brother and second in line to the British throne, Prince William, experimented with a scruffy look of his own in 2008.
Did you remember Will's beard? He grew it out just before he started pilot training with the Royal Air Force, which doesn't allow facial hair.
At the time, The Telegraph offered a few explanations for Will's foray into facial hair, writing:
It is believed that the Prince's beard was an attempt to disguise his identity during the SBS mission. He is also following family tradition, as the Prince of Wales grew a beard while on Naval exercises in Alaska in 1975.
And:
However, beards are banned in the RAF and the Prince must be clean-shaven when he reports for duty next month to commence an 18-month training course to qualify as a search and rescue pilot.
Will's beard made its most notable public appearance on Christmas Day in 2008, when he attended church service in Sandringham looking scruffy and sexy AF (alongside a clean-shaven Harry, no less).
Will looked so effortless, so casually chill with a beard:
Like Harry's beard has, Will's scruffy look prompted comparisons to photos of Prince Charles' beard from 1976:
When Will shaved his head in early 2018, many royal fans took to Twitter to urge him to grow the beard back. So why wouldn't he? Like so many decisions royals make, it could have something to do with pleasing the Queen, who is apparently not a fan of facial hair.
"The Queen soon let her displeasure be known," a royal source told the Sunday Express of Harry's scruff in 2014. "She doesn’t mind royal men growing beards when they are away in the Armed Forces or out in the wilds like Harry was in the Antarctic, but she expects them to be clean-shaven when they get home."
RELATED STORIES
-
Olivia Rodrigo Finds the Perfect Spring Dresses at ReformationShe's worn the brand twice in the past week.
-
Curiously, Just as Meghan Markle Sends Samples of Her New Strawberry Jam Out, the Buckingham Palace Shop Starts Promoting Its Own Strawberry Jam on Social MediaThe clip promoting the Buckingham Palace Shop’s product—we cannot make this up—is set to Mozart’s “Dissonance Quartet.”
-
Zendaya's Latest 'Challengers' Serve Is Nearly a Century OldThe 1930s-era dress may have been pulled months ago.
-
“Extremely Disappointed” Prince Harry Might Be Forced to Miss Attending the 10-Year Celebration of the Invictus Games In Person Next MonthThe event, scheduled for May 8 in London, would see Harry return to the U.K. to celebrate an organization so important to him.
-
Prince Harry Was "Furious and in Tears" Over Frogmore Eviction, Author ClaimsIt was a difficult time.
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Are Prioritizing Their Children's "Happiness" Amid Kate's Diagnosis, Source SaysThe little ones come first.
-
Prince Louis Turns 6—See the Adorable New PhotoPrincess Kate was behind the lens.
-
Will Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Appear in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Two New Netflix Series?Filming for both shows—about polo and cookery—began this month.
-
Prince William Makes Moving Promise About Princess Kate at His First Public Appearance Since She Revealed She Has CancerHe also revealed his youngest child Prince Louis’ favorite sport while at the engagement.
-
Prince Harry Has Changed His Official Residence to the U.S.Don't make it mean more than it does, k?
-
As He Prepares to Return to Royal Duty Tomorrow After Nearly A Month Away, Prince William Is Struggling with “Immense” Pressure, Reports Say“There’s a lot at stake, and he does need support.”
