Prince William's beard received almost unanimous praise from royal fans upon its debut in 2024. While Princess Charlotte burst into tears after seeing her dad's new facial hair, Kate Middleton reportedly had a very different reaction.
In a new interview with 60 Minutes Australia, the Prince and Princess of Wales's former royal aide, Jason Knauf, discussed Kate's reaction to William's new beard. "If she didn't like it, it wouldn't be there," Knauf teased (via Hello! magazine). "I could tell you that!"
The Prince and Princess of Wales's former employee also said of William's beard, "I love it. I think it's great." However, the beard apparently isn't up for discussion, with Knauf revealing, "But I've talked to him about it or tried to talk to him about it. He's like, 'It's here. I have a beard. No further conversation.'"
The Prince of Wales's facial hair has even allegedly inspired a new cosmetic surgery trend dubbed "the Prince William effect," with men requesting hair transplants to look more like the royal.
In an October 2024 interview with the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James suggested that Prince William's decision to grow a beard was related to his wife's improving health following her cancer treatment. "William's recent change of style and his much less cautious-looking and less formal body language seems to indicate both a growing confidence in terms of his stepping up to the throne and maybe an update in his priorities since Kate's and his father's illnesses," James explained.
James indicated that Kate's cancer scare and the extra responsibility William shouldered may have changed the prince's outlook. "Perhaps the key quality being shown with this more relaxed and open body language then is that slow-learned trust," James told the outlet. "So many of the barbs in his life have come from within his own closest family group, and perhaps he finally sees, feels and appreciates the strong support and affection he can enjoy from the public."
