Is Prince William’s beard becoming a permanent part of his personal style?
On October 15, the 42-year-old Prince of Wales wore a beard for his recent engagement – a community event hosted by NFL Foundation UK in London – two months after he debuted his new look. appeared. King Charles’ eldest son wore sporty white sneakers and received a special jersey that read “HRH” (short for “His Royal Highness”), but his fashion statement was notable for the fact that he appeared to be growing a beard. It was done.
Prince William, like most men in the British royal family, has long been known for being clean-shaven. The British Army only lifted its ban on beards for soldiers and officers earlier this year, and the proclivity may stem from military tradition, as many members of the royal family, including William, have previously served in the military. Prince Harry broke the mold when he experimented with growing a beard in 2013, grew it out again in 2015, and has kept it that way ever since. According to his memoir, Spare, he received special permission from Queen Elizabeth II to wear military uniform for his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle.
Prince William attends the NFL Foundation UK Community Event in London on October 15, 2024.
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On August 11, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton went viral after appearing with beards in a video celebrating the British team’s success at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Royal family watchers were shocked as Prince William had not been seen with a scrunched-up neck since the royal family went to church on Christmas Day in 2008, 16 years ago.
Duchess Kate and Prince William in a video released on August 11, 2024.
Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram
His summer stubble didn’t last, and the Prince of Wales was beardless when he drove with Princess Kate to church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland on August 25. It’s worth noting that he looked fresh-faced in the September 9th video as well. The Duchess of Cambridge, along with his wife and their children Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6), announced that they have completed chemotherapy treatment.
Prince William and Duchess Kate drive to Cracie Kirk Church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland on August 25, 2024.
TheImageDirect.com
The footage was shot by Will Waugh in August in Norfolk, home to Anmer Hall, the Welsh family’s country home. It’s been a healing summer for the 42-year-old Princess of Wales, who announced in March that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.
On September 5, before Duchess Kate announced that she had finished chemotherapy, her husband rocked his stubble again as he unofficially resumed his royal duties after the summer break. The heir to the throne has been obsessed with his neck ever since, sporting a cropped beard for every royal outing.
Prince William attended the Sovereigns Parade at Royal Air Force College Cranwell on September 12, 2024.
Karwai Tan/WireImage
According to former New York Giants star Osi Umenyiora, Prince William’s beard wasn’t the only thing that stood out to him at the NFL Foundation’s meeting that day!
“He was taller than I expected! He’s a really, really nice guy. Intelligent, intelligent eyes, and overall he loves the game of soccer, and his passion, and everyone. I think they just understand, or want to understand, the implications of that. It was really fascinating and I don’t think we’ll ever forget it,” Umenyiora tells PEOPLE.
Former Giants player Jason Bell added, “He was really easy to relate to. He was welcoming, open and asked really good questions. He was asking questions about the intricacies of the game and really trying to understand it.”He obviously loves his sport and tries to dig into the details of the game. ”
Prince William attends the NFL Foundation UK Community Event in London on October 15, 2024.
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Both NFL alumni said the Prince of Wales threw himself into the NFL flag event. The event is a provision of the three-year-old foundation, which is the NFL’s first international charity and focuses on underserved areas of the UK with low levels of physical activity.
“You’re talking about a future King of England. For someone like that to put his stamp on a game that’s relatively growing here is going to make the game grow much faster than it has been in the past. I think it will be,” Umeniyiora tells PEOPLE. . “It’s not a traditional sport, but the King of England is a traditional institution. So he’s now letting us know that American football is here to stay.”
