Royal fans are in raptures after Prince William showed off a “handsome” beard in a star-studded post for Team GB alongside his wife, the Princess of Wales.
Standing next to Kate, the 42-year-old Prince of Wales looked unusually tough, unshaven as he praised Britain’s Olympians as they prepared for the Paris Olympics.
The Princess, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, beamed in her final appearance in a special video recorded for Team GB which featured a host of famous personalities.
But some royal fans couldn’t take their eyes off William and his beard. One person wrote on X: ‘Prince William is sexy with his stubble.’
It’s not the first time the prince has grown facial hair. In 2008, he made hearts race by growing a beard for the holidays, claiming that strangers didn’t recognize him.
Royal fans are in ecstasy after Prince William showed off a ‘handsome’ beard in a star-studded message to Team GB alongside his wife, the Princess of Wales
Some royal fans couldn’t take their eyes off William and his beard. For example, someone wrote on X: ‘Prince William is a real eye-catcher with his stubble.’
And despite claiming on Christmas Day that he would shave it off, he held on to the hair for several more weeks.
Fans were very angry about William’s latest appearance with a beard. One wrote: ‘Keep the beard, Prince William. Handsome.’
A third added: ‘Prince William has a gorgeous beard,’ while a fourth said: ‘William please grow that beard!’
Meanwhile, William and his beards made headlines last year after his brother, Prince Harry, 39, claimed in his explosive memoir Spare that the siblings had fought over facial hair.
He said the Prince of Wales asked him to shave off his beard before his wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018.
Harry explained that he had to ask permission from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to grow a beard for his wedding, a privilege William was denied when he married Kate Middleton in 2011.
Harry was the first royal in 125 years to marry with a beard. The last royal to do so was George V, the son of Queen Victoria and Harry’s great-grandfather. He wore a beard at his wedding to Princess Mary of Teck in 1893.
Since it is customary to be clean-shaven in military uniform, the groom was expected to shave before the wedding ceremony.
It’s not the first time the prince has ventured into facial hair; in 2008 he set hearts racing by growing a beard for the holidays after claiming strangers didn’t recognise him.
Response: Fans were outraged by William’s latest appearance with a beard. One wrote: ‘Keep the beard, Prince William. Handsome.’
Soldiers and officers in the British Army will not be allowed to grow a full beard again until King Charles V gives his approval in March 2024, allowing army leaders to end a ban that has been in place for more than 100 years.
However, when Harry was given permission by his grandmother to keep his facial hair, William became “furious.”
Harry reported that his brother said, “You put her in an awkward position, Harold! She had no choice but to say yes.”
He added that William “wouldn’t leave it at that” and that the feud continued “in person, over the phone, for over a week.”
The highlight, Harry says, was when William ordered him to shave off his beard.
Harry replied, ‘For heaven’s sake, Willy, why is this so important to you?’ ‘Because I wasn’t allowed to keep my beard.’
The Duke concluded: ‘Ah, there it was. After he came back from a Special Forces assignment, Willy had a full beard and someone told him to be a good boy, go fast and shave it off. He hated the idea that I was enjoying a perk that he had been denied.’
In the short clip posted yesterday to mark the closing of the Paris Olympics, Kate said: ‘From everyone watching at home, congratulations to Team GB.’
The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB shirt, added briefly: “Well done Team GB, you are an inspiration to us all.”
In an accompanying message on their social media account, the royal couple said: ‘Well done @teamgb, what an incredible journey!
Harry explained how he asked his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, for permission to grow a beard on his wedding day
Prince Harry said Prince William wouldn’t let the issue rest because he wasn’t allowed to have facial hair for his own wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011 (pictured)
‘Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart and passion. You made us all so proud!
‘We celebrate every victory at @paris2024 and look forward to more from @paralympicsgb_official later in the summer.’
Former England captain David Beckham also offered a message of support in the video, saying: ‘Hey Team GB, we are so proud of you, congratulations.’
Announcer Gabby Logan said: “You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for everything. These memories will last a long time.”
Retired American sprinter and broadcaster Michael Johnson said: ‘Well done Team GB, you did a great job. You’re not as good as us in the US, but well done.’
Former Welsh athlete Colin Jackson beamed with delight as he told the Olympians: “You did a fantastic job.”
Announcer Emma Willis said it had been “sensational watching you over the last few weeks.”
Swimmer Rebecca Adlington was full of praise for Team GB. She said: ‘Your performance is absolutely fantastic.’
Former jockey and presenter Clare Balding said: ‘I know how much you have lifted the nation and I want to thank you for that.’
Rapper Snoop Dogg, who hosts the Olympics for US broadcaster NBC, also features in the star-studded video
Former US sprinter Michael Johnson, who presented for the BBC at the Olympics, said Team GB had done a ‘good job – although not as good as the US’, while former heptathlon champion and now presenter Jessica Ennis-Hill said: ‘Well done, Team GB’
In a social media post, the royal couple spoke about Team GB’s ‘incredible journey’
American rapper Snoop Dogg, who was a welcome guest at this year’s Olympic Games as a special guest presenter for American broadcaster NBC, completed the video.
With his usual trademark smile and informal personality, he said: “Thank you, Great Britain. On behalf of Snoop Dogg, the Prince and his beautiful wife,” before clasping his hands and bowing his head.
Kate and William’s glowing video emerged shortly after a heartfelt statement from King Charles III, in which he called all Olympians “an inspiration.”
The Prince congratulated them on their ‘exceptional successes’ and stressed in the message, sent just hours before the final moments of the Olympic Games in the French capital, their “pure talent, real willpower and hard work”.