Prince William was once forced to shave his beard as he was accused of breaking royal rule

Royal fans may have been swooning over Prince William’s new stubble but he was forced to shave his facial hair many years back, due to royal protocol, according to Prince Harry.

Prince William recently sported a new stubble, but was forced to shave it many years back (Image: Instagram/@princeandprincessofwales, Getty)

Prince William may have caused a royal fan frenzy with his latest stubble but according to his brother, Prince Harry, the two siblings once had a fiery spat over facial hair, as the heir to the throne was not allowed to keep his due to royal protocol, but his younger brother could.

The Prince of Wales sported a new beard as he joined his wife, Princess Kate, in a sweet new video where they congratulated Team GB as the Olympic Games in Paris came to a close.

William was dressed casually in a polo shirt with Team GB’s logo on it and royal fans could not contain their excitement.

But many years back, he was forced to shave his facial hair due royal protocol, according to the Duke of Sussex.

Harry wrote in his memoir, Spare, that he and William allegedly got into an argument over protocol which left the heir to the throne “livid” just before the royal wedding in 2018.

Prince William sported a beard in December 2008 (Image: Getty)
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The Duke claimed that William was furious for more than a week after he was allowed a perk William couldn’t have – a beard.

Harry wrote: “A beard was thought by some to be a clear violation of protocol and long-standing norms, especially since I was getting married in my Army uniform. Beards were forbidden in the British Army.”

The Duke claimed he told the late Queen Elizabeth of how the beard made him feel calmer, to which she replied: “‘Yes’, she said, ‘you may keep your beard’.

“But then I explained it to my brother and he… bristled? Not the done thing, he said. Military rules, and so forth.”

Harry also wrote in his book that William didn’t let go of the argument for over a week before asking him to shave it off before the big day, with the duke asking why on earth it mattered.