Prince William’s Hair Transformation Is Helping Boost His Image After a Year of Scandals
Prince William’s clean-shaven face has grown familiar to royal fans; it’s a classic dad look. The Prince of Wales was noticed in an August Olympic video sporting some holiday scruff, so it appears that he is experimenting with his look this summer. William is letting everyone know that he’s ready to modify his image by choosing not to shave for his fall appearances in the U.K.
The 42-year-old royal made an entrance on Thursday, September 5 at the “Homelessness: Reframed” exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London, and his swagger made The Cut headline “Alert: Prince William Is Hot Again.” Besides his beard, he had one more button undone under his navy-blue suit, which made him look like a gorgeous dad. Swooning fans can also be found on social media!
One woman commented on X, “I usually don’t like facial hair on men, but in this case, Prince William rocks it.” “A lot of very happy ladies to see that Prince William is growing facial hair again 😁💙,” commented another social media user. His summer-to-fall beard was so popular that one user even tagged Kensington Palace, saying, “Look who’s handsome with facial hair.” Prince William, His Royal Highness, appearing dignified.
But the reason for the image makeover might be more than just being too lazy to shave; it might have much to do with the contentious year the royal family had. In the midst of Kate Middleton’s health problems, there were renewed accusations of William having an affair with Rose Hanbury. Despite the lack of proof, the supposed affair took on a life of its own during the past five years. Ellie Hall of Vulture thinks that the royal family is to blame for the lingering nature of the risqué rumors.
“I believe that if they hadn’t threatened legal action back in 2019, this story would have withered on the vine because it became public knowledge that media outlets had been warned against it, as noted by The Daily Beast and other publications. The only reason the narrative is still alive is because someone genuinely wants it to go, the author stated in a July in-depth piece. Considering the backlash against the couple’s work ethic, Kate’s Photoshop scandal, her sudden disappearance before receiving a medical diagnosis, and other issues, it’s obvious why Prince William needs a style makeover to escape the never-ending news cycle.
When you consider that the pair is now searching for a senior communications officer at Kensington Palace, William’s style change seems to be happening at exactly the right moment. It’s as though Kate and William are aware that their detractors are becoming more vocal and that they must establish a stable reign for themselves after King Charles III abdicates his throne. In other words, it’s time to step up their public relations efforts.
