Royal fans have been left swooning after Prince William showed off a ‘handsome’ beard as he appeared in a star-studded message to Team GB alongside his wife the Princess of Wales.
Standing by Kate’s side, the Prince of Wales, 42, sported an unusually rugged look, with an unshaven appearance as he praised the British Olympians ahead of the end of the Paris Olympics.
The Princess, who is continuing to undergo cancer treatment, was positively glowing in her latest appearance in a special video shot for Team GB featuring a host of well-known personalities.
But for some royal fans, they couldn’t take their eyes off of William and his beard, with one person writing on X: ‘Prince William with his stubble is hot.’
It is not the first time the Prince has dabbled in facial hair; in 2008 he sent hearts a-flutter by growing a beard for the festive season, claiming that strangers failed to recognise him.
Royal fans have been left swooning after Prince William showed off a ‘handsome’ beard as he appeared in a star-studded message to Team GB alongside his wife the Princess of Wales
Some royal fans couldn’t take their eyes off of William and his beard, with one person writing on X: ‘Prince William with his stubble is hot.’
And despite claiming on Christmas Day that he would shave it off, he kept the fuzz for several weeks.
Fans were left hot under the collar thanks to William’s latest appearance with a beard, with one person writing: ‘Keep the beard, Prince William. Handsome.’
A third added: ‘Love the beard on Prince William,’ while a fourth said: ‘William please keep growing that beard!’
Meanwhile, William and beards hit headlines last year after his brother Prince Harry, 39, claimed in his explosive memoir Spare that the siblings argued over facial hair.
He said the Prince of Wales told him to shave his beard off before his wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018.
Harry explained that he had to ask permission from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to have a beard for his wedding, a privilege that was not granted to William when he wed Kate Middleton in 2011.
Harry was the first royal in 125 years to wed with a beard. The last royal to do so was George V, the son of Queen Victoria and Harry’s great-great grandfather. He wore a beard during his wedding to Princess Mary of Teck in 1893.
As it is customary to be clean-shaven when dressed in Army uniform, the groom was expected to have shaved prior to his wedding ceremony.
It is not the first time the Prince has dabbled in facial hair; in 2008 he sent hearts a-flutter by growing a beard for the festive season, claiming that strangers failed to recognise him
Reaction: Fans were left hot under the collar thanks to William’s latest appearance with a beard, with one person writing: ‘Keep the beard, Prince William. Handsome.’
British Army soldiers and officers have only since been allowed to grow a full beard after King Charles gave his approval in March 2024, allowing military chiefs to end the more than 100-year ban.
However, when Harry was granted permission by his grandmother to keep the facial hair, William ‘became livid’.
Harry reported his brother saying: ‘You put her in an uncomfortable position, Harold! She had no choice but to say yes.’
He added that William ‘wouldn’t let it go’ and that the argument continued ‘in person, on the phone, for more than a week’.
It culminated, according to Harry, with William ordering him to shave his beard off.
Harry said he replied: ‘For the love of God, Willy, why does this matter so much to you?’
‘Because I wasn’t allowed to keep my beard.’
The Duke concluded: ‘Ah, there it was. After he’d come back from an assignment with Special Forces, Willy was sporting a full beard, and someone told him to be a good boy, run along and shave it. He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he’d been denied.’
In the short clip posted yesterday to mark the closing of the Paris Olympics, Kate said: ‘From all of us watching at home congratulations to Team GB.’
The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB top, then briefly added: ‘Well done to Team GB, you’ve been an inspiration to us all.’
In an accompanying social media post on their account, the royal couple said: ‘Well done @teamgb, what an incredible journey!
Harry explained how he asked his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, permission to have a beard on his wedding day
Prince Harry said that Prince William wouldn’t let the issue go because he hadn’t been 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!
‘Here’s to celebrating every triumph @paris2024 and looking forward to more from @paralympicsgb_official later in the summer’.
In the video, former England football captain David Beckham also gave a message of support. He said: ‘Hey Team GB, we are so proud of you, congratulations.’
Broadcaster Gabby Logan added: ‘You have been amazing. Thank you so much for everything. These memories will last a very long time.’
Retired American sprinter and broadcaster Michael Johnson said: ‘Great job Team GB, you did a great job, not quite as good as us in the US, but well done.’
Former Welsh athlete Colin Jackson beamed with delight as he told the Olympians: ‘You smashed it.’
Broadcaster Emma Willis said it had been ‘sensational to watch you over the last couple of weeks’.
Swimmer Rebecca Adlington had huge praise for Team GB. She said: ‘Your performances have been absolutely fantastic.’
Former jockey and presenter Clare Balding also said: ‘I know how much you have lifted the nation and I just want to say thank you for that.’
Rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been presenting for American broadcaster NBC at the Olympics, also features in the star-studded video
Former American sprinter Michael Johnson, who has been presenting for the BBC at the Olympics, said Team GB had done a ‘good job – though not quite as good as the US’ as former Heptathlon champion turned broadcaster Jessica Ennis-Hill said, ‘Well done Team GB’
In a post on social media, the royal couple spoke about the ‘incredible journey’ of Team GB
American rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been a popular presence at the Olympics this year as a special guest presenter for US broadcaster NBC, rounded off 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 lovely wife,’ before clasping his hands together and bowing his head.
Kate and William’s beaming video came shortly after a heartfelt statement from King Charles III, in which he called all Olympians ‘an inspiration’.
The monarch congratulated their ‘outstanding successes’ and singled out their ‘raw talent, true grit and hard toil’ in the message, which came just hours before the final moments of the Olympic Games in the French capital.
Share or comment on this article: Prince William leaves fans hot under the collar as he displays ‘handsome’ beard in star-studded clip with the Princess of Wales to praise Team GB’s Olympian efforts
