Prince William and the Princess of Wales delighted royal fans with an unexpected visit to the Balmoral estate yesterday. Accompanied by their eldest son, Prince George, the family was photographed arriving at Crathie Kirk for Sunday service.
This outing marked Kate’s first appearance at the Scottish church since her cancer diagnosis announcement in March. The royal family was joined by King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, James, Earl of Wessex, and Sir Tim Laurence.
While royal watchers were thrilled to see the Princess of Wales in her signature elegant style—a brown check coat and fedora hat—they quickly noticed Prince William’s new look. Did you catch it?
At 42, Prince William made a return to his clean-shaven appearance, bidding farewell to the beard he had recently sported. He had previously showcased a rugged look on social media, posting a photo with a smattering of facial hair to celebrate Team GB’s success at the Paris Olympics. During the summer, the Wales family took a break from royal duties, enjoying time at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, with their children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
The temporary beard had been a hit with fans, many of whom urged him to “keep growing that beard” and praised the “holiday beard” as making him “more handsome.” Comments included remarks about the positive effects of a tan and beard on his appearance, with one fan declaring, “William’s beard era is back.”
With his clean-shaven look signaling the end of his summer break, Prince William is set to resume royal duties. His first public engagement is scheduled for September 5, where he will visit The Saatchi Gallery’s new exhibition, “Homelessness: Reframed,” to meet with artists and hear the stories behind the artworks.
