Prince William’s bold new bearded look took the internet by storm in late 2024, but not everyone in his family was thrilled about the change.
While royal fans were buzzing over his rugged transformation, one of his biggest critics was none other than his daughter, Princess Charlotte.
During a royal visit to South Africa in November, William revealed that Charlotte was left in “tears” after seeing his bearded face for the first time.
The young princess was reportedly shocked by her father’s unexpected makeover, proving that even royals aren’t immune to disapproving family members.
However, while Charlotte may not have been a fan, William had the most important approval—his wife, Princess Kate. According to former royal aide Jason Knauf, Kate’s opinion on the beard was all that mattered.
Speaking in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Knauf revealed that Kate gave her full support to William’s new look.
“If she didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be there. I can tell you that!” he said, shutting down any speculation about Kate’s stance on her husband’s facial hair.
Knauf also hinted that William has been firm in his decision to keep the beard, despite any controversy. “I love it. I think it’s great. But I’ve talked to him about it or tried to talk to him about it,” he said.
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According to Knauf, William has a no-nonsense approach when it comes to discussing his new look. “It’s here. I have a beard. No further conversation,” he reportedly told those who questioned him about it.
Interestingly, royal facial hair has been a topic of tension in the past—especially between William and his brother, Prince Harry.
In his explosive memoir Spare, Harry revealed that facial hair was a hotly debated issue between the brothers.
Harry claimed that while he was granted permission to keep his beard for his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle, William was not allowed to do the same for his own wedding in 2011. The difference in treatment allegedly became a point of contention between the two.
While royal tradition often discourages facial hair, it seems William has decided to break the mold. His beard debut not only sparked online discussions but also proved that even the future king enjoys switching up his look.
As for Princess Charlotte, time will tell if she eventually warms up to her dad’s bearded transformation—or if she continues to be his toughest critic.
