Prince William spent two decades in the public eye as a clean-shaven royal. Then, in late 2024, he appeared at public events with a full beard and the reaction was immediate. Social media, tabloids, and grooming forums all agreed on one thing: the prince william beard was a significant upgrade.
I saw the first photos and my initial thought was that the beard rebalanced his entire face. The shaved head and beard combination gave him a stronger, more grounded look than the receding hairline and bare face ever did. It was one of those rare cases where a single grooming decision changed the public perception of a person overnight.
In this post, I’m analyzing the prince william beard in detail. What makes it unique, why it suits him, how he styles it, and how it compares to other well-known celebrity beard styles.
Why Did Prince William Grow a Beard?
Prince William has not given a public statement explaining why he grew a beard. But the timing and context offer strong clues. The prince william beard appeared in late 2024, during a period widely described as one of the most difficult in his personal life. Catherine, Princess of Wales, had been undergoing cancer treatment throughout the year, and William had taken on additional royal duties.
Grooming changes during stressful periods are common. Many men stop shaving during difficult personal times, and a beard can develop naturally from that pause. Whether the beard was a deliberate choice or a result of shifting priorities, the outcome was a look that the public responded to positively.
There is also a practical factor. William had been steadily losing hair for over a decade, and by 2023 he had committed to a closely shaved head. A beard paired with a bald or buzzed head is one of the most reliable combinations in men’s grooming. It shifts the visual weight of the face from the top of the head to the jawline, which creates a stronger, more balanced appearance.
Prince William Beard Timeline
The prince william beard 2025 look is the most developed version, but it is not the first time he has had facial hair.
2008: William was photographed with visible stubble during his time in the military. The prince william beard army look was short-lived. Royal protocol at the time discouraged beards in most formal contexts, and he returned to clean-shaven within weeks.
2022: William appeared with light stubble at several informal events. The growth was barely past a 5 o’clock shadow and was not maintained as a deliberate style.
Late 2024: The full prince william beard appeared. The beard was thick, even, and clearly past the stubble stage. It covered the cheeks, chin, and jawline and connected to the mustache. This was the first time William committed to a beard as a consistent part of his appearance.
2025: The prince william beard 2025 version remains his current look. The beard has been maintained at a consistent length and shape across formal events, public engagements, and casual appearances. It appears to be a permanent addition to his grooming routine.
What Makes the Prince William Beard Unique?
a) The Bald Head and Beard Combination
The most distinctive feature of the prince william beard is how it works with his shaved head. Hair loss had been one of the most discussed aspects of William’s appearance for years. The tabloids covered it regularly. By shaving his head short and growing a beard, William redirected the focal point of his face from the top of the head to the jawline and chin.
This combination is a well-known principle in men’s grooming. A bald or buzzed head with a beard creates a visual anchor at the bottom of the face. It adds structure and presence that a bare head and bare face together cannot produce. The prince william beard is one of the most high-profile examples of this principle in action.
b) Length and Shape
The prince william beard sits at approximately 8 to 12mm. It is longer than stubble but shorter than a full-length beard. The shape follows the natural jawline without aggressive carving. The cheek line is relatively natural, with only the highest stray hairs removed. The neckline is clean but not razored into a hard edge.
The chin area carries slightly more density than the cheeks, which gives the beard a subtle tapering effect from the jaw upward. This is a natural growth pattern, not a deliberate styling choice, but it works to William’s advantage because it directs attention toward the chin and away from the upper face.
c) Color and Density
William’s beard grows in a dark reddish-brown tone that is slightly warmer than his remaining head hair. The density is even across the cheeks, chin, and jawline, with no visible patchy areas. The mustache connects fully to the beard at both corners. The color creates a warm frame around the face that contrasts with the paler skin tone, which adds definition.
d) Mustache and Sideburn Integration
The mustache is trimmed to the same length as the beard and does not extend past the lip line. It sits naturally without wax or shaping. The sideburns are short because the head hair is buzzed close, so the transition from scalp to beard happens almost immediately above the ear. There is no fade or gradient. The beard starts where the buzz cut ends, which creates a clean, blunt border that suits the minimal head hair.
Why Does the Prince William Beard Suit Him?
The prince william beard works for three specific reasons tied to his facial structure and proportions.
Jawline definition. William has a long face with a narrow jaw. The beard adds visual weight and width to the lower face. Without the beard, the face reads as elongated. With the beard, the proportions shift closer to oval, which is considered the most balanced face shape.
Hair loss compensation. A bare scalp with a bare face leaves the face looking exposed from every angle. The beard gives the face a frame. The shaved head becomes a deliberate style choice rather than a reaction to hair loss when paired with a well-maintained beard.
Maturity and presence. The beard ages William slightly, which works in his favor. As a future king, looking mature and grounded is an advantage. The beard adds gravitas that the clean-shaven look lacked. Surveys after the beard appeared showed that the public rated him as more attractive and more authoritative with the beard than without.
How Does Prince William Style His Beard?
Based on public appearances, the prince william beard follows a low-maintenance grooming approach. The style does not appear to use heavy product, and the edges are maintained without sharp geometric lines.
- Length: Maintained at approximately 8 to 12mm with a trimmer. The length has stayed consistent across multiple months of public appearances.
- Cheek line: Natural, with only scattered hairs above the growth line removed. No hard border or razored edge.
- Neckline: Clean but soft. Set just above the Adam’s apple with a slight taper rather than a sharp cutoff.
- Mustache: Trimmed to beard length. Not shaped or waxed. Sits at or just above the lip line.
- Products: The beard appears matte and natural, suggesting minimal product use. A light beard oil for hydration and a daily brush would maintain the look seen in public appearances.
Prince William Beard vs Other Celebrity Beards
The prince william beard occupies a specific category in celebrity facial hair. Here is how it compares to other well-known beard styles.
| Celebrity | Beard Style | Length | Head Hair | Edge Work | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince William | Natural full beard | 8-12mm | Buzzed/bald | Soft, natural | Long, narrow faces |
| Chris Evans (Captain America) | Natural full beard | 10-15mm | Medium length | Soft, natural | Square, oval faces |
| Drake | Lined-up short beard | 5-8mm | Buzzed | Sharp, carved | Round, oval faces |
| Jason Statham | Heavy stubble | 3-5mm | Buzzed/bald | Natural | Square, angular faces |
| David Beckham | Short boxed beard | 10-15mm | Styled, medium | Sharp, defined | Oval, square faces |
| James Harden | Long full beard | 50mm+ | Short/buzzed | Natural, wild | Round, wide faces |
| Keanu Reeves | Patchy natural beard | 8-15mm | Long | Soft, natural | Oval, long faces |
The prince william beard is closest in style to the Chris Evans captain america beard. Both are medium-length natural full beards with soft edges and minimal product. The key difference is that William pairs his with a bald head, which shifts the visual balance further down the face. Drake and Beckham take the opposite approach with sharp, carved lines. Harden sits at the extreme end with a long, statement beard. William’s version occupies the middle ground: groomed enough for formal events, natural enough to look effortless.
Prince William Beard and Hair Loss
The connection between the prince william beard and hair loss is impossible to ignore. William’s receding hairline was one of the most covered aspects of his public image from his mid-20s onward. By his early 40s, the remaining hair was thin enough that a buzz cut became the most practical option.
Growing a beard after committing to a shaved head is one of the most effective grooming strategies for men with hair loss. The beard replaces the visual frame that head hair once provided. Without head hair or a beard, the face has no border and can appear washed out or undefined. The beard gives the face an anchor point and draws attention to the eyes and mouth rather than the top of the head.
William’s example has been widely cited on grooming forums and Reddit threads as proof that the bald-plus-beard combination works. The contrast between his appearance before and after the beard is sharp enough that it has been described as one of the most visible grooming transformations by a public figure in recent years.
FAQs
Why does prince william have a beard?
Prince William has not publicly explained why he grew a beard. The timing suggests it developed during a difficult personal period in late 2024. The beard also complements his shaved head and adds structure to his face that the clean-shaven look lacked.
When did prince william grow a beard?
Prince William’s current beard first appeared in public in late 2024. He had brief periods of stubble in 2008 during military service and in 2022 at informal events, but neither lasted more than a few weeks.
What beard style does prince william have?
Prince William has a natural full beard at approximately 8 to 12mm. The cheek line follows his natural growth pattern, the neckline is softly tapered, and the mustache connects to the beard. The style is low-maintenance with no sharp geometric edges.
Does prince william’s beard help with hair loss?
Yes, the beard shifts visual attention from the top of the head to the jawline and chin. A beard paired with a buzzed or bald head creates a frame for the face that head hair once provided. This is a well-known grooming strategy for men experiencing hair loss.
Has prince william had a beard transplant?
There is no evidence that Prince William has had a beard transplant. His beard coverage is even and dense, which suggests natural growth. Beard transplants typically leave visible scarring in the donor area, and no such scarring has been identified in published photos.
Is prince william more handsome with a beard?
Public reaction has been strongly in favor of the beard. Social media polls, tabloid coverage, and grooming forums have consistently rated the prince william beard look as more attractive than his clean-shaven appearance. The beard adds jaw definition, compensates for hair loss, and gives his face a more balanced proportion.
Can prince william wear a beard with a military uniform?
British military regulations historically required soldiers to be clean-shaven. However, as a senior royal who is no longer in active military service, William is not bound by those regulations at public events. King Charles III has also been seen with a beard in recent years, suggesting that royal protocol on facial hair has relaxed.
What does prince william’s beard look like in 2025?
The prince william beard 2025 version is a well-maintained natural full beard at 8 to 12mm. The color is a dark reddish-brown. The shape is consistent and even across both sides. He has worn it at formal events, public engagements, and casual outings throughout 2025.
How can I get a beard like prince william?
Grow your beard for 2 to 3 weeks without trimming. Then set a trimmer to 10mm and even out the entire beard. Remove stray hairs above your natural cheek line without creating a hard border. Taper the neckline softly above the Adam’s apple. Apply beard oil daily and brush downward with a boar bristle brush.
Why is prince william’s beard different from prince harry’s?
Prince Harry has worn a fuller, redder beard for longer. Harry’s beard is typically longer at 15 to 20mm and has more visible ginger tones. William’s beard is shorter, darker, and more closely maintained. Harry’s beard works with a full head of hair, while William’s is designed to complement a shaved head.
Did prince william shave his beard?
As of early 2025, Prince William has not shaved his beard. He has maintained the style consistently since it first appeared in late 2024. There has been no public indication that he plans to remove it.
What face shape does the prince william beard suit?
The prince william beard works best on long and narrow face shapes because the full coverage adds width to the lower face. It also suits oval faces and heart-shaped faces. Men with round faces should consider a version with slightly more length at the chin to add vertical definition.
Why the Prince William Beard Changed the Conversation on Royal Grooming
The prince william beard is one of the best examples of how a single grooming change can transform the way someone looks. The shaved head alone was a step forward. Adding the beard turned it into a complete style. The combination gave William a stronger jawline, a more balanced face, and a public image that reads as confident and grounded.
If you have a similar situation with thinning hair or a shaved head, William’s approach is worth studying. Keep the beard at a natural length, avoid sharp edges, let the growth pattern do the work, and pair it with a close-cropped or bald head. The result speaks for itself. Discover more popular beard styles to find the right combination for your face shape.
