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Prince William and other royals who have sported beards and facial hair

Prince William looked really different with a beard, Prince Harry and King Charles have also worn them

Updated 2 days ago
beard or no beard
Jenni McKnight
US Lifestyle Editor
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Royal men love to experiment with their facial hair, and while for some it has been merely a phase, for other members of family, their bearded look is here to stay. But beards aren't univerisally loved by the royals and Prince Harry's explosive book Spare revealed that while he was given permission to have a beard when he married his wife, Meghan Markle, Prince William was furious because he hadn't been afforded the same option.

We were struggling to remember what Prince William looked like with facial hair - so here's a look at all the royal men who have experimented with facial hair in the past...

WATCH: What royal men look like with and without facial hair

Prince William

Split image of Prince William with and without a beard© Getty Images

Prince William didn't sport a beard for very long, but the royal looked very dapper in 2008 during a trip to Sandringham when he sported a full beard. By the time he walked down the aisle with wife Kate, it was all gone and William has never looked back.

Prince Harry

Split image of Prince Harry with and without a beard© Getty Images

Prince Harry was the perfect boyish royal when he had a fully shaven face, but now he's matured into an adult, he truly suits having a beard.

King Charles

Split image of King Charles with and without a beard© Getty Images

In truth, we could never properly imagine King Charles having a beard, but he did wear one briefly in his youth. These days, the monarch prefers a clean-shaven face.

Mike Tindall

Split image of Mike Tindall with and without a beard© Getty Images

Mike Tindall is another royal gent who certainly suits having a beard, just look how distinguished he is on the left! But during his rugby days, the star decided to be clean-shaven.

King Willem-Alexander

Split image of King Willem-Alexander without and without a beard© Getty Images

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has been sporting his well-groomed ginger facial hair for several years now. And we believe he certainly suits the style a lot more than when he was clean-shaven.

King Frederik

Split image of King Frederik with and without a beard© Getty Images

The newly-crowned King of Denmark is certainly a fan of his grey facial hair. He looks like an entirely different person in the photo on the right without it!

King Philippe

Split image of King Philippe with and without a beard© Getty Images

Although King Philippe of Belgium prefers to go without facial hair these days, the royal did appear to be very regal when he sported a small beard.

King Felipe

Split image of King Felipe with and without a beard© Getty Images

When Spain's King Felipe acceded to the throne in 2014, he was fully clean-shaven, however, as the years have gone on, the royal has decided to embrace a full grey beard.

Crown Prince Haakon

Split image of Crown Prince Haakon with and without a beard© Getty Images

Crown Prince Haakon has such a baby face without his facial hair! The royal has fully embraced his beard over the years and we think it really suits the Norwegian heir to the throne.

Prince Carl Philip

Split image of Prince Carl Philip without and without a beard© Getty Images

Prince Carl Philip looks like quite the gentleman with his beard, but back in his younger days, he had an Orlando Bloom vibe going with his clean-shaven appearance.

Andrea Casiraghi

Split image of Andrea Casiraghi with and without a beard; in the second image he is carrying a child© Getty Images

The Monaco royal suits both having a beard and going clean-shaven. Which one do you prefer?

Pierre Casiraghi

Split image of Pierre Casiraghi with and without a beard© Getty Images

Pierre Casiraghi is another Monaco royal who suits having a beard or going without. But with his facial hair, he almost resembles Miles Teller in Top Gun 2!

Prince Michael of Kent

Split image of Prince Michael of Kent without and with a beard© Getty Images

We round off this list with the late Queen's cousin, Prince Michael of Kent. Although it's almost impossible to imagine the royal without his signature white beard, in the photo on the left he was fully clean-shaven as he posed with his new bride, Princess Michael of Kent. What a difference!

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