Prince William sticks with new beard after debuting it during Olympics – as he views homeless charity’s art exhibit
PRINCE William has stuck with his summer beard in a trip to a London art gallery to view a homeless exhibit.
Today’s trip to the Saatchi Gallery is the Prince of Wales’ first engagement since the Royal Family stepped away for their summer break.
William first debuted his new facial hair in a video alongside Princess Kate to thank team GB after the Paris Olympics.
He was seen sticking by his decision to keep his rugged look as he waved to fans on arrival at the exhibition today.
The Prince of Wales met artists who have contributed to the exhibition and chatted to some of the young people who helped create the artwork from doors.
William was also seen greeting Dave Martin, who he famously sold the Big Issue alongside back in 2022.
The exhibition features sculptures, photographs and everyday objects from artists in the UK and beyond giving those effected by homelessness a chance to share their stories.
It was been created in collaboration between Homewards, Saatchi Gallery and Eleven Eleven Foundation.
Artists include Marc Quinn, Dave Tovey, Simone Brewster, Opake, poet Surfing Sofas and Rankin – who photographed and interviewed nine rough sleepers.
The attraction has three parts: a collection of mainly hand-drawn signs sometimes seen next to a person sleeping rough, artwork commissions, and doors turned into art by young people, from the six areas where Homewards is working, during workshops led by local artists who have been homeless.
Back in August, fans went wild after William debuted his new beard.
He shared his new look in a video with Princess Kate as the couple thanked Team GB ahead of the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony.
One commented: “Pardon me ladies… I need to cool down. Prince William looks so handsome with a bit of facial stubble.”
Another added: “Oh William.”
And a third said: “THE BEARD?!”
A fourth said: “Love the beard – it really suits you.”
It is quite rare for any male members of the royal family to sport beards.
William last had a beard in 2008 when he got back together with Kate during a brief break in their relationship.
However, when King Charles was a young man in the navy in the 1970s he sported an impressive beard.
Prince William’s brother Harry has also been a prominent beard-wearer.
The issue of beards came up in Prince Harry’s book Spare.
“To beard or not to beard, that was the question,” wrote Harry, as he remembered how his grandfather Prince Philip wanted more beard rather than less.
“Let grow the luxurious bristles of a bloody Viking!” he wrote.
The beard was also a source of contention between the brothers, according to Prince Harry’s book, with Harry wanting to have a beard at his wedding to Meghan, while he claimed Prince William thought he shouldn’t.
The first section of today’s exhibition is titled ‘Invisible Words’, it features a poignant collection of signs created by people experiencing homelessness worldwide.
In the second section of the exhibition, ‘Reframed’, The Prince will view newly commissioned pieces by artists who have reflected their own or others’ experiences of homelessness.
Lastly, ‘Open Doors’ features doors made by children and young people from the six Homewards locations – Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland, and Sheffield.
His visit to the exhibition comes after William and Harry both attended a memorial of their uncle Lord Fellowes, the late husband of their aunt and Princess Diana‘s older sister Jane, in Norfolk last week.
William and Harry have not spoken for months and currently have no contact, choosing to stay apart from each other even when in the same room for the service.