Princess Charlotte broke down in ‘floods of tears’ when Prince William grew his beard

It’s been one of the biggest talking points of recent weeks: does William’s beard rock or is it a royal disaster?

According to the prince, his daughter, Princess Charlotte was firmly in the latter camp – bursting into tears when she saw it earlier in the summer.

In fact the nine-year-old was so upset that he decided to shave it off. But then he decided to try and win her round.

Asked whether his beard was going to stay and if his wife and family liked it, William laughed, saying: ‘The beard! 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. And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.’

The late Queen famously didn’t like hirsute male family members so when Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princes William grew beards while abroad with the Royal Navy, they all had to quickly shave them off on their return.

It’s been one of the biggest talking points of recent weeks: does William’s beard rock or is it a royal disaster?

Princess Charlotte was so upset that he decided to shave it off. But then he decided to try and win her round

Asked whether his beard was going to stay and if his wife and family liked it, William laughed, saying: ‘The beard! 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’

It comes as the Prince of Wales opened up about having the ‘hardest year in my life’ following his wife and father’s cancer diagnoses.

In a remarkably candid – and at times emotional – interview at the end of his official visit to South Africa he admitted the past few months had been ‘brutal’.

But the prince also said how hugely ‘proud’ he was of Catherine and the King for handling their health battles with such dignity and bravery.

He added that the Princess of Wales was now ‘doing well’.

Speaking in Cape Town yesterday, the future king covered everything from his much-discussed beard to his passion for ‘meaningful’ royal work such as his landmark Earthshot Prize environmental awards.

But it is was his response to how the past year had been for him as a husband, father and son that will move people most.

Slightly sighing and lowering his voice, he said: ‘Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

‘But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.

‘But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.’

Asked how is the princess is ‘getting on’, he smiled and said: ‘She’s doing well. Doing well.’

Speaking in Cape Town yesterday, the future king covered everything from his much-discussed beard to his passion for ‘meaningful’ royal work such as his landmark Earthshot Prize environmental awards 

Earlier this week he praised Kate, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February and underwent a course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’, as having ‘been amazing this whole year’

His father, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer following routine prostate surgery in January – although the two are not said to be connected – and is still undergoing weekly treatment but has pleased doctors with his progress

William added of his relaxed demeanour in Cape Town this week: ‘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.’

Earlier this week he praised Kate, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February and underwent a course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’, as having ‘been amazing this whole year’.

She recently revealed that she has finished her chemotherapy treatment. 

His father, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer following routine prostate surgery in January – although the two are not said to be connected – and is still undergoing weekly treatment but has pleased doctors with his progress.

William, 42, made clear that he intends to continue to plough a different furrow when it comes to his royal role and duties than that of this father and grandmother, for the time being at least.