Prince William left fans swooning over his dashing new look – a beard.
The royal, 42, along with Kate Middleton, also 42, took to Instagram on Sunday, 11 August, to cheer on Team GB's fantastic work at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rubbed virtual shoulders with celebrities including David Beckham, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Rebecca Adlington, Emma Willis, and even Snoop Dogg, as they celebrated the conclusion of this year's games.
Fans couldn't stop taking about William's sudden apparent love of facial hair, but now the reason behind his transformation has been revealed.
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Judi James, a body language expert, told The Sun that William's beard shows he is focusing on his role as a family man rather than needing his clean-shaven look seen on royal duties. He is on holiday with Kate and their three children in Balmoral, the Scottish home of the Royal Family.
![Prince William's new look had fans feeling hot under the collar](https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/royal/article33448100.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/3_screenshot_2024-08-11_at_201738.jpg)
Judi said that William is "dedicating himself totally to time off". She explained: "He seems to have shaved his head hair shorter but more than compensated with his beard, which also signals the fact that he has been taking his family time really seriously and dedicating himself totally to time off with his wife and children."
She revealed that William last had a beard in 2008 when he got back together with Kate after they'd briefly split.
The royal couple have been somewhat out of the spotlight recently, as Kate has been undergoing preventative chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis which came to light during a routine abdominal operation.
But in their latest Instagram video, viewed by their massive 16.7 million followers, the pair looked radiant and sun-kissed after basking in good weather.
![Prince Harry with Prince William](https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/royal/article33395982.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/3_prince-harry-with-prince-william.jpg)
Filmed in the lush grounds of their Adelaide Cottage residence in Windsor, William and Kate were all smiles as they praised Team GB. "From all of us watching at home, congratulations to Team GB," Kate shared warmly, with William chiming in: "Well done on all you've achieved," and further complimented them saying, "You've been an inspiration to us all," reports the Mirror.
One thrilled fan gushed, "William please keep growing that beard! " while another added, "You both look amazing! ! ! ! ! Love the scruff W! ! ! Catherine you look stunning! !"
Prince William had previously been told to shave his beard off, according to Prince Harry. In his memoir Spare, he wrote: "After he'd come back from an assignment with Special Forces, Willy was sporting a full beard, and someone told him to be a good boy, run along and shave it. He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he'd been denied."