Prince William Made a Major Change at Trooping the Color — But Charlotte Won't Be Too Happy
Prince William put on a brave display at Trooping the Color despite the difficult year he had with King Charles and Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis. On June 14, the Prince of Wales rode on horseback alongside Princess Anne and Prince Edward to mark the official birthday of Charles. William, who had donned the full ceremonial uniform of the Welsh Guards, had grown facial hair for the occasion. His rare look would’ve certainly not pleased his daughter, Princess Charlotte, who has made it abundantly clear that she isn’t a fan of her father growing a beard.
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William was first seen with a beard when he congratulated Team GB after the 2024 Paris Olympics. As reported by People magazine, during his visit to Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize Awards last November, William shared that his attempt to grow a beard did not sit well with his daughter. He said, "Well, 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." He added, "Then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay." When a reporter noted that his new facial hair gave him a 'relaxed' look, William admitted that his appearance was deceiving. He said, “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.”
The Prince of Wales's facial hair debut at the August Paris Olympics was dubbed his 'summer beard.' As per InStyle, his former royal advisor Jason Knauf shared that Middleton had the final say on her husband's decision to grow a beard. He spilled, "If she didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be there. I can assure you.” Middleton herself has shared her hilarious take on William occasionally growing a beard. While speaking with soldiers on St. Patrick's Day in March 2025, she shared, "These trends come and go. I was saying to my husband, I’m not sure how long he’s going to keep his for.”
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As far as the 2025 Trooping the Color is concerned, Charlotte didn’t seem too angry with her father's look, as she beamed while twinning with her mother, Middleton. The mother-daughter duo turned heads as they arrived in perfectly coordinated shades of aqua. The young Princess also paid a heartfelt tribute to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, by wearing a delicate brooch she inherited from the late monarch. Traveling in a traditional horse-drawn carriage down The Mall, Charlotte sat beside Middleton, while her brothers, Prince George and Prince Louis, sat across from them, facing backward.
George and Louis, meanwhile, sported suits with red ties. As per tradition, the Trooping the Color ended with members of the royal family gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast. Charles and Queen Camilla stood at the center, joined by William, Middleton, their three children, and other working royals.