Prince William had gone clean-shaven for years when he appeared with a bold beard in a video he issued with wife Kate Middleton in August 2024 to congratulate Team Great Britain on their success at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Royal watchers were shocked as he had not worn a beard in public since 2008.

Prince William is a royally good sport. The Prince of Wales, 42, cracked a joke about his thinning hair while in the West Midlands in England on Tuesday. Prince William greeted a slew of locals and one woman in particular — who sported bright red hair — caught his eye during the walk-through.

While Prince William will one day wear England's crown, he is aware it will be placed atop a smooth surface. The royal has been spotted cracking a joke about going bald, a topic that has circulated non-stop since his hairline began to recede over a decade ago.