On August 11, Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate, appeared in a new Instagram video celebrating the 2024 Paris Olympics. Fans were excited to see Kate Middleton wearing her new eternity ring in the video, but many onlookers began to thirst for Prince William's new beard. If you've ever wondered why Prince William doesn't usually wear a beard, Prince Harry seems to have the answer.

In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry talks about his decision to ask Queen Elizabeth for permission to keep his beard. 'After the stress of asking my grandmother for permission to marry Meg [Han Markle], I knew I wouldn't dare ask her for anything else. 'Grandma, please, may I grow a beard for my wedding?'

According to Harry, his request was actually quite serious and he expected his grandmother to refuse. 'It's no small request,' Harry wrote. 'Some people thought that growing a beard was against protocol and long-standing norms. Beards were forbidden in the British Army.”

Harry should have been pleased that the Queen agreed to his request, but his brother reportedly made the situation more difficult. According to Harry, William “resented” his brother's request to the Queen about the beard. Harry writes: “She was so upset that she had no choice but to say yes! She had no choice but to say yes.” That's not all. The bizarre argument over Harry's beard reportedly continued for the next week, as William “wouldn't let it go.”

According to the Duke of Sussex's memoirs, William ordered him to shave his beard before his wedding to Meghan Markle. As to why, William reportedly told his brother, “I was not allowed to keep my beard.”

The Prince of Wales has rarely been seen with a beard before, making his appearance in the new Olympic video all the more shocking. According to Harry, William resented not being given the same privileges as his brother. 'Willie had grown a beard after returning from Special Forces duty. He hated the idea that I was enjoying the privileges he had been denied.”

As heir to the throne, Prince William had always had a very rigorous career. As a result, he must follow certain rules and does not have as much freedom as his brother Prince Harry. Nevertheless, the public reaction to Prince William's new beard certainly suggests that the world would welcome a bearded king with open arms.