Prince William has recounted how he was forced to shave off his beard after his new facial hair brought his daughter Princess Charlotte to tears.
His Royal Highness shared the story as he concluded a four-day tour of South Africa, expressing his affection for the nation and his desire to take his three children – George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, five – there soon.
Speaking about his facial hair fiasco, he said: "Well Charlotte didn't like it the first time. I got floods of tears, so I had to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I convinced her it was going to be OK! "
The Prince of Wales also reflected on a particularly tough year, labelled by some as 'annus horribilis', which saw both his father Charles, 74, and his wife Kate Middleton, 42, being diagnosed with cancer, the Mirror reports.
Candidly, 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."
Prince William expressed pride in his family's resilience, saying: "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 brutal."
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This year has been particularly challenging, with King Charles hospitalised for an enlarged prostate in January and Kate undergoing abdominal surgery, which required a nearly two-week hospital stay. In February, Buckingham Palace revealed the monarch's cancer diagnosis, followed by Kate's own diagnosis just days later, which she publicly disclosed in late March.
After taking time off to care for his family, William marked his return to royal duties with the 2024 Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Cape Town. The event celebrated innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues, with five £1million prizes awarded.
During his visit, William met inspirational young individuals from local townships, entrepreneurs, and environmentalists, as well as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. He also joined supermodels Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow on a scenic boat tour of Kalk Bay.
Royal insiders have suggested that the trip signifies a new era of statesmanship for Prince William, who has been serving as the Prince of Wales for the past two years since his father ascended to the throne.
It's clear that William is entering a new chapter, evident from the causes he's championing and his future aspirations.
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