Kensington Palace 'refuse to comment' on Prince William's new appearance
Prince William has been stepping out looking decidedly different lately - but Kensington Palace is reportedly refusing to comment on the Duke of Cambridge’s divisive new look. In recent weeks, Wills has whipped up a frenzy of chatter online from fans, and those opposed to his apparently controversial choice, sporting his new look most recently in public as he visited a charity art project at the Saatchi Gallery in London, part of the Cambridges’ Homewards project, “which aims to develop a blueprint for eradicating homelessness in all its forms”.
Prince William, 42, has been seen with a glowing tan and a full new beard. He first showed off the hairy new look in a video message for Team GB after the Paris 2024 Olympics, after growing it on the family’s summer holidays to Norfolk and Balmoral.
Now, The Telegraph reports that Kensington Palace has lightheartedly declined to comment on the beard - and whether it’ll be sticking around for the foreseeable.
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At the end of August, William shaved the stubble to go to church, when he was seen attending a service at Crathie Kirk looking clean shaven and fresh faced. However, at the art exhibition last week, he appeared to have grown back the bushy beard - appearing that he wasn’t just experimenting with it for the summer.
The trip was the first time William had brandished a beard at an official public engagement since 2008, where he was seen with a beard on Christmas Day at Sandringham.
Fans have been quick to comment on the facial hair. As one commented on X: “"We are loving Prince William's beard today, and glad it made such big news!”. Another wrote: “"He's a very handsome man and the beard definitely suits him. A great look."
But it’s divided opinions, with others commenting: "I don't like the beard at all. Sorry Prince William” and "Prince William needs to get rid of the beard. It's not royal."
Overall though, commentators seem to approve, with a poll by the Telegraph finding that 64% of readers like his new look.
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It comes after wife Kate Middleton delighted fans with a joyful statement following her recovery from her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Last week Princess Kate, 42, took to social media to share a heartwarming personal message that she was ‘looking forward’ to her work duties, signing the message off with her initial, ‘C’.
Meanwhile, this past weekend marked two years since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Andrew Morton, author of The Queen: 1926-2022, t old OK! exclusively of the Royal Family missing her presence, saying: “I think they all miss her guiding hand… With the Queen as head of state and head of the family, they’d all bedded down quite nicely into their roles, and now everything’s been jolted around. . All the illness which has assailed so many of the senior royals has knocked the whole edifice back on its heels.”
