Why Prince William's beard left Princess Charlotte in tears

Prince William’s bearded look has sparked curiosity among royal fans, and now a former royal aide is shedding light on whether Kate Middleton is a fan of her husband’s facial hair.

In a special episode of 60 Minutes Australia, Jason Knauf, the former aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales, revealed Kate’s opinion on William’s beard—a look that first caught attention when he sported it in a video last summer while congratulating Team GB athletes.

Knauf left no doubt about where Kate stands on the matter: "If she didn't like it, it wouldn't be there. I could tell you that!" he quipped.

He also shared his own admiration for the look: "I love it. I think it's great. But I've talked to him about it or tried to talk to him about it. He's like, 'It's here. I have a beard. No further conversation.'"

While Kate might approve, William revealed that his daughter, Princess Charlotte, had a very different reaction when he first grew a beard.

Recalling the experience during a four-day visit to Cape Town, William 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."

However, he managed to convince her the second time around: "And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be OK."

William also addressed media remarks that his beard made him look more relaxed, but he dismissed the assumption: "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."

Who will be king after Prince William?

King Charles III has been the reigning monarch since 2022, with his eldest son, Prince William, Prince of Wales, as his heir apparent. Following William in the line of succession are his three children, listed in order of birth: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.