Prince William mixed humor with hands-on engagement during a recent visit to the 1st Battalion of the Mercian Regiment, turning a lighthearted comment about facial hair into one of the day’s standout moments. While meeting soldiers at Bulford in Wiltshire, the future king joked that he might swap his now-signature beard for a moustache, taking inspiration from a growing trend among troops.
Prince William jokingly warns about ditching beard for a new style that’s ‘creeping in’ — report
Prince William, who debuted his beard in the summer of 2024, appeared amused by the number of soldiers sporting neatly groomed moustaches. Stroking his beard as he spoke, he quipped, “I might end up taking mine off” and “leave a tash,” drawing laughter from those around him.
According to Lt Jack Austin, the moustache trend began during the battalion’s deployment to Estonia last year, which William noted is now “creeping in.” The British Army revised its grooming policy in March 2024, allowing soldiers to wear neatly groomed facial hair.
William spent much of his visit observing the regiment’s evolving training methods. At an urban training facility, he watched soldiers rehearse building clearance exercises using drones to enhance visibility, which he developed from recent operational experience. Wearing ear protection, the prince observed as troops navigated a mock structure he jokingly compared to a “bouncy castle,” while drones hovered overhead to guide movements.
Curious about the technology, he asked operators how long it takes to master drone control. The response: if you’re good at video games, you’re already halfway there. William praised the exercise for its creativity and practical value, highlighting how it builds on skills gained during deployments.
After the engagement, William asked participating soldiers about their morale, whether they were enjoying their service, how they were staying occupied, and what support they might need. He also presented three Long Service and Good Conduct Medals to soldiers before posing for a group photograph, including their families.
Originally reported by Khushali Srivastava on Reality Tea.
