Prince William following in King Charles’ footsteps as he makes dramatic change
Prince William made headlines back in August when he debuted a rugged new look, and it looks here to stay. To the delight of his fans, the future King has been rocking a beard – and he’s not the first heir-to-the-throne to do so. His father Charles sported a very similar appearance in the 70s.
The then-Prince of Wales ditched the clean-shaven look while serving in the Royal Navy, between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the Army, the Navy has allowed its servicemen to have facial hair for more than a century. And Charles chose to take advantage of the rule.
In September 1971, Charles embarked on his naval career and enrolled in a six-week course at the Royal Naval College Dartmouth. He served from 1971 to 1972 on the guided-missile destroyer HMS Norfolk and the frigates HMS Minerva, from 1972 to 1973, and HMS Jupiter in 1974. That same year, he also qualified as a helicopter pilot.
The King spent his last 10 months of active service in the Navy commanding the coastal minehunter HMS Bronington, beginning on 9 February 1976. His father Prince Philip, grandfather King George VI, and both great-grandfathers before him had also embarked on successful naval careers.
William, meanwhile, recently revealed his daughter Princess Charlotte’s reaction to his beard – and safe to say, she wasn’t a fan!
The Prince was asked about his stubble at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town in November, and he admitted: “Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.”
