In September, Prince William came back from summer vacation with a beard, and it’s clear that his new look is here to stay. On Tuesday, the prince traveled to Salisbury Plain, where he trained with the Welsh Guards in full uniform. The photos from the outing show him talking to soldiers in ghillie suits, observing live firing training, and smiling as he handles the remote controls for a drone.
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On the social media accounts he shares with wife Kate Middleton, William shared his thoughts about the day. “Observing and participating in live-firing exercises as Colonel of the Regiment,” he said. “These training sessions are essential as the Welsh Guards rebuild their specialist weapons capabilities. Proud to see their dedication and professionalism in action.”
William served in the military from his 2006 graduation until 2013 and has held honorary military appointments ever since. From 2011 to 2022, he was the Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards, but he gave that position to Princess Kate when he was appointed to this role with the Welsh Guards. For the last two years, the regiment has been serving in ceremonial roles, which included the procession for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the festivities surrounding King Charles III’s coronation. In 2023, they also took the lead during the annual Trooping the Colour celebration. William’s Tuesday visit marked their return to operational duties.
William addressed the beard during his recent trip to South Africa. “Well Charlotte didn’t like it the first time,” he joked. “I got floods of tears, so I had to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay.”
The prince’s decision to grow a beard this time around coincides with the lifting of a centuries-old policy about beards in the British Armed Forces. In March, the Army announced that soldiers would be allowed to grow beards so long as there is “no patchy or uneven growth” and “no exaggerated colours.” According to The Times, King Charles III had to personally approve the policy change.
The rules about beards in the military have contributed to royal family stress in the past. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry noted that he had gotten a special dispensation to wear a beard in uniform for his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle, something that apparently, inflamed tensions with his older brother.
