He’s a bearded king.
Prince William and Kate Middleton made a surprise appearance in a new Instagram Reel congratulating Team Great Britain as the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close Sunday — but even though the video was star-studded, royal fans could only focus on William’s new facial hair.
While the Prince of Wales, 42, typically is clean-shaven, he showed off some stubble in the clip as the royal couple joined some famous faces like Snoop Dogg and David Beckham to praise the efforts of British athletes in the summer games.
The prince wore a blue Team GB polo in the Reel and showed off a summer tan as he called the team “an inspiration to us all.”
Royal fans went wild for the clip, proclaiming the prince’s “beard era” was finally back.
“I had to watch that again, just to see William’s stubble – wowza! 🙌 … and I’m waaaaaay too old to be writing that! 😀😀😀” one Instagram user commented on the Reel.
“Please William keep that beard, we want you like that after the holidays 🙏🤪” another added, while a third joked, “I’ll be honest, didn’t hear anything anyone said after I saw William with beard…..🤩🥵.”
“I now understand why they didn’t go to the Olympics,” one fan posted on X. “Princess Catherine saw Prince William with the beard and said, ‘I don’t want to share you with anyone like this, and I don’t want you to shave it off so we’re not going.’ And I can’t blame her for that.”
As for the 42-year-old princess — who is currently being treated for cancer — she wore her signature Breton stripes for the video, sporting a white boat-neck top with navy stripes and a thin gold necklace.
This isn’t the first time Prince William has gone for a bearded look; he sported thick facial hair while attending a Christmas Day church service in 2008.
Although royal watchers were eager to see the couple attend this year’s Olympics — and William had been reported to attend the climbing competition — they stayed back in England as the princess continues to recover from cancer.
The Prince of Wales was last seen at the Euros final on July 14, when he showed off his usual clean-shaven face and a smart suit alongside son Prince George, 11.
The royals typically don’t resume their official duties until September, so watch this space to see if William’s beard survives the summer.
