Prince William's transformation: From dashing teenager to doting dad, a look at royal’s style evolution
A look at Prince William’s style transformation over the years: From sweatshirts to tailcoats
Prince William, 41, seems to have mastered the art of dressing in an unofficial "uniform". Saville Row suits and impeccable tailoring have replaced the baggy trousers and trendy Ralph Lauren jumpers from his college days. Beneath the glamour and extravagance, Prince William is a devoted father to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and he has an appropriate "dad" outfit for the times when he isn't in the spotlight. Explore Prince William's evolving style throughout the years, from his Eton boy era to his stunning red-carpet appearances.
2000: Prince William's final year at Eton College
Red-cheeked, floppy-haired Prince William was a prefect during his last year at Eton College. By the time he turned 18, the young Prince would have been accustomed to dressing in suits every day. The black tailcoat, often known as the morning coat, is a distinctive feature of Eton's uniform that is worn over a black waistcoat and pinstriped pants. Additionally, there's a unique white necktie.
2001: Prince William caught attention in Ralph Lauren sweatshirts
At the age of 19, William attracted attention in Ralph Lauren sweatshirts, faded jeans, and trainers in 2001. On his first day at St Andrews University in 2001, Prince William turned heads everywhere. He was dressed casually in large jeans, a navy sweater, and a pale blue shirt—the quintessential cool guy ensemble of the decade.
2007: Prince William played sports with brother Prince Harry
Since his early years, Prince William has played polo, a pastime he enjoyed with his brother Prince Harry when they were teenagers. The 25-year-old royal was a regular participant in the sport in 2007.
2008: Prince William's bearded look
Unearthed pictures from 2008 showed Prince William looking unrecognizable when he had a big, bushy beard over these few short months. While the Prince of Wales proudly flaunted a full beard look at the time, William has been clean-shaven since his 20s. The image of a bearded Prince William at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2008 is no stranger among many royal fans, having resurfaced on social media after Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare' came out, per HELLO! Magazine.
2010: Prince William's sophisticated look after his engagement
Prince William and Kate Middleton were longtime friends from university before the prince proposed during a trip to Kenya in 2010. After Prince William and Kate were engaged in 2010, there was a noticeable change in the way he dressed. His outfits became more sophisticated, his tailoring more precise, and there was much less of the prince sporting scuffed jeans and enormous rugby shirts.
2011: Prince William's red Irish Guards uniform on his royal wedding to Kate Middleton
Prince William, who is ranked Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore his red uniform on his special day of marriage to Kate Middleton. A global audience of 162 million people witnessed their 2011 royal wedding, which saw Queen Elizabeth II bestow upon them the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
2015: Prince William chose blue while introducing his children to the world
Prince William chose to wear blue when he introduced his children to the world in 2013, 2015, and 2018, respectively. When Prince William arrived at St Mary's for the delivery of his second child, Princess Charlotte, he was dressed in a blue jumper. The prince showed up with his firstborn, Prince George who was the exact hue of blue as his father.
2019: Royal Ascot tailcoats and top hats
The most glitzy event on the royal family's racing calendar, Royal Ascot, is one of the few occasions when Prince William will don a top hat.
2022: Stylish father-son duo at Wimbledon Championships
Prince William would never be spotted without a jacket when attending a formal royal event, not even during the height of British summer. The future King looked elegant and refined in a linen jacket during the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, and it appeared his oldest child, Prince George, was already picking up style cues.
2023: Prince William rocked velvet tuxedo at EE BAFTA
In 2023, Prince William stunned royal fans by wearing a sleek velvet tuxedo for the EE BAFTAs. The father of three would alternate between his luxurious emerald velvet Reiss blazer and a traditional satin-lined tuxedo at this point in his collection of occasionwear. However, the Prince of Wales made his royal red carpet debut in a brand-new Tom Ford ensemble at London's Festival Hall.
2024: Prince William enters his ‘statesman era’
Earlier this month, Prince William's confident performance at the yearly horse racing event at Royal Ascot led some royal admirers to declare that he is about to enter his "statesman era". William showed up wearing a black morning suit jacket, gray trousers, and a black top hat, perfectly in line with the dress code. He wore it with a blue-patterned tie and a double-breasted waistcoat worn over a collared shirt.
