The Prince of Wales has been rocking a beard as part of his style since 2024, even though his only daughter, Princess Charlotte, isn't a fan of his facial hair.
However, during an outing at a military base in Bulford, Wiltshire, William hinted that he might be up for changing his appearance. The royal appeared to be impressed by the moustaches that were being sported by members of the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment.
While stroking his beard, William quipped: "I might end up taking mine off and leaving a 'tache."
The British Army relaxed its rules around facial hair in the same year that William started growing his beard out. While speaking with Lt Jack Austin, 23, the royal even joked that the style was "creeping in now".
During his visit, William, who serves as the colonel-in-chief of the regiment, also spoke with female members of the military, asking them about their experiences within the organisation and additional work that needed to be done.
The father of three also watched a combat demonstration that involved drones in urban areas, praising the exercise for its creativity and help in developing the skills of the regiment.
Charlotte's disdain
The heir to the throne was first seen sporting a beard in a video message sent to athletes competing for Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In November, he gave an interview to media while in South Africa for his Earthshot Prize, admitting that his daughter didn't like his change of appearance.
"Well Charlotte didn't like it the first time," he explained. "I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off, and then I grew it back."
© Getty ImagesBeforehand, William had grown a beard in 2008. However, he reportedly ditched the hair on behalf of his late grandmother, when she requested he remove it to comply with military guidelines while the royal was on a secondment.
Until 2024, soldiers were not permitted to grow their facial hair while in the British Army. Now guidelines state that beards and moustaches must be neat, properly groomed and subjected to routine checks.
