Princess Charlotte Had a 'Flood of Tears' When She Saw Dad Prince William's Beard for First Time

Mar. 15, 2025

Princess Charlotte and Prince William.Photo:Karwai Tang/WireImage, Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty

Karwai Tang/WireImage, Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty

Prince Williamis speaking out about his bold new look for the first time.In a candid interview on Nov. 7 to mark the end of his visit to Cape Town, South Africa, for this year’s Earthshot Prize Awards, the Prince of Wales, 42, revealed thathis new beardhad to pass a very important test — not from the public, but from his 9-year-old daughter,Princess Charlotte!William shared that his initial attempt to grow facial hair earlier this year didn’t go quite as planned.“Well, Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. I got floods of tears, the first one I got tears, so I had to shave it off," he said.Determined to give it another go, the royal dad of three had to do a little convincing.“Then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay,” William added.Prince William on Nov. 6, 2024.Victoria Jones/ShutterstockWhen one of the reporters noted that the prince’s new facial hair, which hedebuted in August, gives him a laid-back, “relaxed” look, William admitted that the appearance is deceiving.“It’s interesting you say that, because I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that,” he said about the past year, which saw both his wife,Kate Middleton, and father,King Charles, diagnosed with cancer.“But it’s more a case of just crack on and you’ve got to keep going,” he said.Prince William on Nov. 7, 2024.Chris Jackson/GettyCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!Between royal duties and balancing time with his family, Prince William says he’s making room for the things he values most.“I enjoy my work, and I enjoy pacing myself and keeping sure that I have got time for my family too,” he said.

Prince Williamis speaking out about his bold new look for the first time.

In a candid interview on Nov. 7 to mark the end of his visit to Cape Town, South Africa, for this year’s Earthshot Prize Awards, the Prince of Wales, 42, revealed thathis new beardhad to pass a very important test — not from the public, but from his 9-year-old daughter,Princess Charlotte!

William shared that his initial attempt to grow facial hair earlier this year didn’t go quite as planned.

“Well, Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. I got floods of tears, the first one I got tears, so I had to shave it off," he said.

Determined to give it another go, the royal dad of three had to do a little convincing.

“Then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay,” William added.

Prince William on Nov. 6, 2024.Victoria Jones/Shutterstock

Victoria Jones/Shutterstock

When one of the reporters noted that the prince’s new facial hair, which hedebuted in August, gives him a laid-back, “relaxed” look, William admitted that the appearance is deceiving.

“It’s interesting you say that, because I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that,” he said about the past year, which saw both his wife,Kate Middleton, and father,King Charles, diagnosed with cancer.

“But it’s more a case of just crack on and you’ve got to keep going,” he said.

Prince William on Nov. 7, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Between royal duties and balancing time with his family, Prince William says he’s making room for the things he values most.

“I enjoy my work, and I enjoy pacing myself and keeping sure that I have got time for my family too,” he said.

source: people.com