Prince William reveals how 9-year-old Princess Charlotte reacted when she first saw him with a beard

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Prince William has finally opened up about his new facial look, revealing how his 9-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, reacted on seeing him with the beard for the first time.

Known for his typically clean-shaven appearance at public events, William has recently garnered attention for sporting facial hair.

During the interview, he not only discussed his new look but also shared insights into how he balances his royal duties with his personal life.

Prince William reveals his facial hair didn't impress Princess Charlotte

Prince William debuted his facial hair in August while appearing alongside his wife, Kate Middleton, in a video congratulating Great Britain's athletes on their achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His first public appearance with the beard came in September, and he proudly showed it off again in October when he joined the Princess of Wales for her first public outing since completing her cancer treatment in Southport, England.

In a candid interview with People, William shared that his new beard had to pass a crucial test—not from the public, but from his daughter Charlotte. The interview took place on Thursday, November 7, at the conclusion of his visit to Cape Town, South Africa, for this year’s Earthshot Prize Awards. 

Reflecting on his first attempt to grow facial hair earlier this year, which didn’t go as planned, William recalled Charlotte’s reaction: "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."

Determined to give it another try, William, a father of three, said, "Then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay."

When a reporter pointed out that his new facial hair gave him a more laid-back and relaxed look, William admitted the appearance was somewhat misleading. He reflected on the difficult year he had, with both his wife, Kate Middleton, and his father, King Charles, being diagnosed with cancer.

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

Prince William reflects on King Charles and Kate Middleton's health battles

In the interview with People, Prince William reflected on his family’s struggles in 2024, calling it "the hardest year" of his life. He shared, "Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult."

In addition to Kate Middleton's battle with cancer, King Charles III also revealed his cancer diagnosis in February. William expressed pride over how his father and wife bravely battled their health challenges.

“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done," he said, as per PageSix.

"But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal," he added, while reflecting on how these health challenges took an emotional toll on their family.

William also spoke about balancing his royal duties with family life, saying, "I enjoy my work, and I enjoy pacing myself and keeping sure that I have got time for my family too."