Once the Prince and Princess of Wales made the commitment to Busy Thursdays, they could not waiver. Well, honestly, Princess Kate will use any excuse to only work one day a week, and that was on Wednesday for the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Kate waved off this week’s Busy Thursday, while William put on some military drag and visited Bulford Camp in Wiltshire. He’s Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, and they were deployed to Estonia last year as part of a NATO mission. So he was visiting with them for the first time since they returned back home. He also made a special point of doing a breakout talk session with enlisted women, which was almost definitely supposed to be the focus and headline of the visit: “Pro-Woman prince speaks with enlisted gals.” Unfortunately for all, William went off script when he was talking to the enlisted men, so now we’re talking about mustaches and awkwardness.
Prince William has joked he will shave off his designer beard and leave a moustache to join troops sporting fashionable facial hair. The Prince of Wales, who grew his own beard in the summer of 2024, admired the moustaches of the soldiers during a visit to the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment at Bulford, Wiltshire. Stroking his beard, he said: “I might end up taking mine off and leaving a tash.”
Told by Lt Jack Austin, 26, that the craze had started when 1 Mercian was serving in Estonia last year, the Prince noted that the style is “creeping in now”. The British Army changed its rules to allow neatly-groomed facial hair on soldiers in March 2024.
During his visit to Bulford, the Prince was shown the latest training techniques, including an exercise using drones to help with building clearance, and met families.
One mum, 63-year-old Maxine Debonnaire, left the future King laughing after she jokingly told him she had barely seen her son since he returned from Estonia because he had been out on so many dates. “I think we’ll get on very well,” William told her, putting an arm around her as 26-year-old Lt Harris Debonnaire laughed along and confirmed he had in fact taken her out for Mother’s Day.
The Prince joined the officers, soldiers, and families of B Company in the Officers’ Mess to hear about their recent six-month deployment to Estonia on Operation Cabrit – the UK’s contribution to NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Estonia and Poland.
Whew, let’s get into it, shall we? I actually believe that William’s ugly beard is very unpopular among royalists and the royal press. They rarely bring it up, nor did they ever talk about how creepy it is that William wanted a beard just like his brother. One of my biggest peeves about William’s beard is that he keeps it hyper-groomed and yet it looks both prissy and dirty. Either grow out a full salt-and-pepper beard (like King Felipe) or don’t bother, you know? But if he tries a mustache, people will be really upset. He’ll look absolutely horrible, even worse than he looks now (lmao).
As for this: “…After she jokingly told him she had barely seen her son since he returned from Estonia because he had been out on so many dates. ‘I think we’ll get on very well,’ William told her, putting an arm around her…” What the f–k? At first, I was like “is he trying to say that he’s also going out on dates constantly?” But no, it’s like he’s hitting on the mom?? What a deeply awkward man.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- 26/03/2026. Bulford, UK. His Royal Highness joined a conversation with a female network, giving him the opportunity to hear directly about their experiences of serving as a woman in the Armed Forces. The Prince then observed training in the regiment’s bespoke urban training facility, where they are trialling and experimenting with drones in urban combat. His Royal Highness also joined the officers, soldiers, and families of B Company following their recent deployment to Estonia at a coffee morning in the Officers’ Mess, to hear about their experiences over the last six months. Finally, The Prince presented three Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers.,Image: 1086415760, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever., Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- 26/03/2026. Bulford, UK. His Royal Highness joined a conversation with a female network, giving him the opportunity to hear directly about their experiences of serving as a woman in the Armed Forces. The Prince then observed training in the regiment’s bespoke urban training facility, where they are trialling and experimenting with drones in urban combat. His Royal Highness also joined the officers, soldiers, and families of B Company following their recent deployment to Estonia at a coffee morning in the Officers’ Mess, to hear about their experiences over the last six months. Finally, The Prince presented three Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers.,Image: 1086415792, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever., Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- 26/03/2026. Bulford, UK. His Royal Highness joined a conversation with a female network, giving him the opportunity to hear directly about their experiences of serving as a woman in the Armed Forces. The Prince then observed training in the regiment’s bespoke urban training facility, where they are trialling and experimenting with drones in urban combat. His Royal Highness also joined the officers, soldiers, and families of B Company following their recent deployment to Estonia at a coffee morning in the Officers’ Mess, to hear about their experiences over the last six months. Finally, The Prince presented three Long Service and Good Conduct medals to soldiers.,Image: 1086415813, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever., Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace/Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince William (C), Prince of Wales as Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, meets with soldiers of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment and family members following their six-month deployment to Estonia, in Bulford in south-west England on March 26, 2026.,Image: 1086422638, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: JUSTIN TALLIS/Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince William (R), Prince of Wales as Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, chats with Captain Maria Bell (L), head of the Mercian Female Network, during his visit to the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment in Bulford in south-west England on March 26, 2026.,Image: 1086422844, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: JUSTIN TALLIS/Avalon
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- Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, speaks to female members of the regiment during a visit to 1 Mercian at Bulford Camp, Wiltshire. Featuring: William, Prince of Wales – Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment Where: Salisbury, United Kingdom When: 26 Mar 2026 Credit: Justin Tallis/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, speaks to female members of the regiment during a visit to 1 Mercian at Bulford Camp, Wiltshire. Featuring: William, Prince of Wales – Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment Where: Salisbury, United Kingdom When: 26 Mar 2026 Credit: Justin Tallis/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, speaks to female members of the regiment during a visit to 1 Mercian at Bulford Camp, Wiltshire. Featuring: William, Prince of Wales – Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment Where: Salisbury, United Kingdom When: 26 Mar 2026 Credit: Justin Tallis/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, (right) meets with soldiers of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment and family members following their six-month deployment to Estonia, during a visit to Bulford Camp, Wiltshire. Featuring: William, Prince of Wales – Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment Where: Salisbury, United Kingdom When: 26 Mar 2026 Credit: Justin Tallis/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
He’s very odd looking and awkward. He should just shave off the beard stubble
Please just shave it all. Facial hair does not flatter you at all.
Dear God… Just try wearing a balaclava. Please!
I was going to suggest he just put a bag over his head and be done with it, but I like your suggestion better
🤣
William is not an attractive man. Beardless or with mustache he will still be unattractive.
And he’s ugly from the inside out. No amount of grooming will help that.
He is VERY unattractive.
Horse teeth william parker-bowles! A hands-on father this awkward? Scary!
The “creeping in now” quote was put in there on purpose. As was his “joke” to the soldier’s mom. Of all the choices, those were the ones made. I think the rota hate Scooter’s beard. I also think they don’t like him very much either.
About the stupid dating joke: he was dragged for being a rude asshole to his wife. He always puts other people down when he tries to be funny. Maybe he heard the criticism and it’s his attempt at joking with positive comments. Like an alien imitating humans.
“Designer” beard???!!! Someone needs glasses lol.
He seems very…awkward in his body. Gangly almost, which is odd because he’s in his 40s. Also, that awkwardness wasn’t always there…what happened? I wonder if he didn’t have a nervous break years ago. I only say this because I had one in my twenties and it was years before I felt “right” in my body again and I was pretty awkward.
I think he was awkward when he younger but it wasn’t as noticeable bc of the hair and him being considered a heartthrob. But if you go back, a lot of his interactions have always been awkward.
We’ve been pointing out his awkwardness here for some time now, and I actually think he is somwhat better now 😬. I don’t remember when we started noticing that he looks so unsure of himself, diminished somehow. Now he is just awkward. I feel like there was a “breaking point” in the not so distant past.
Wasn’t it Estonia where Prince William visited and promised to send a refrigerator to British troops there? What ever happened to that? You’d think if he sent a refrigerator that there would be mention of it in this article, even someone thanking him in front of the cameras.
Designed by whom? His worst enemy?
COTD 🤣🤣🤣
A tash? Ew. Just call not a mustache please. I’ve heard people say stache before but never just tash.
the beard is so deeply ugly
The man is so deeply ugly… on every level.
The nadir of dignity.
That second photo where he’s so TIGHTLY wound and CLENCHED even though he’s supposed to be having a relaxing chat with the ladies is sooooo William. He looks so awkward. But with all the money and resources and influence that he has, how is it that he manages to look so goddamn uncomfortable in every single situation? Why is he so tightly wound? Look at the way his fingers are strained, and his knuckles. Like Mr. Burns on speed, constantly trying to keep himself in check. Yikes.
Notice they didn’t show us that little girl’s face? 😀
A “designer beard”? Was it designed in a mud puddle because that what it looks like on his face some dirty mud. The king of awkward is at your service!
Everytime I see William in military gear I just think he’s playing dress up.
I mean, what is the point of this military cosplay???
It’s do dumb and insulting.
Oh bless his heart Willy playing dress up soldiers ,with real ones ,
I wonder what kind of king this strange sloth will be.
@JAIS, ‘tashe (short for moustache) is very British.
At this point, almost anything would be an improvement.
Designer beard? A very British double entendre.
William is so performative. There is nothing real or genuinely human about him. And “beard”…quite a stretch to call it a beard when it just looks like dirty stubble.
Which is why he and Kate are well matched.
Please do exactly that… I need a good laugh in this fascist hellscape, especially since each weekend is some new hell. I cannot imagine that face with a ‘stash. The stubble hides how gaunt and hungover her consistently looks…. Shave it!
You know who else was not at ease glad-handing the public like an American mayor of a Midwest town? Elizabeth II. She was not one of those people who could charm the birds off the trees, like Diana. Even Charles is considerably more charming, he makes an effort to put people at ease. He takes after his late father. Famous charmer. Hot hot hottie. Sorry. Anyhoos. Elizabeth decided to do the honest thing, knowing herself not to be a charismatic leader, per se: she knuckled down to diligence and discipline and devotion. And other alliteration. Drive. Dedication. She showed up. One of my favourite bands calls charisma “exquisite manipulation.” She refused to coast on charm. She showed up. She did the work.
Yep, I have always found his beard to be unflattering for the same reason: it’s attempting to be scruffy, but it’s really quite fussy. Particularly in these photos, there’s a really sharp contrast between how carefully he has trimmed and sculpted the hair on his chin and that sad wayward little patch on the top of his head. It’s giving Scuttle the Seagull from the Little Mermaid.
“Designer” beard? Really?
I suspect he called this in himself. Gawd what an ugly boob. Give it up, William. You don’t have it and never will.
I’d rather he shaved off that grotty combover.