Prince Harry has claimed that his older brother Prince William was “jealous” of him in the build-up to his wedding – for a very surprising reason. Harry and Meghan tied the knot on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. William stood by his brother’s side on his big day – but according to Harry, they had had a major fall-out ahead of the nuptials.

The Duke wore his military uniform on his wedding day, just as William had done when he married Princess Kate in 2011. But Harry was allowed to keep his beard – a privilege not afforded to the future King. According to military dress codes, Harry should have been clean-shaven while wearing the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals. But he sought special permission from the Queen to keep his facial hair – something that reportedly infuriated his sibling.

Harry wrote about ‘beard-gate’ in his tell-all memoir Spare. “And yet I now dared to make another ask – Granny, please, may I, for my wedding, keep my beard? Not a small ask either,” he said. “A beard was thought by some to be a clear violation of protocol and long-standing norms, especially since I was getting married in my Army uniform. Beards were forbidden in the British Army.” And when William found out he had been granted permission, Harry said he “became livid” and claimed his older brother said: “You put her in an uncomfortable position, Harold! She had no choice but to say yes.”

According to Harry, William would not let the issue drop, with the argument continuing for more than a week. It reportedly culminated with William ordering Harry to shave it off . The Duke claimed he responded by saying: “For the love of God, Willy, why does this matter so much to you? ‘Because I wasn’t allowed to keep my beard.’ Ah, there it was. After he’d come back from an assignment with Special Forces, Willy was sporting a full beard, and someone told him to be a good boy, run along and shave it. He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he’d been denied.”

In March 2024, the Army lifted its long-standing ban on beards. Soldiers and officers are now allowed to grow beards while serving in the British Army – although they must be neat and properly groomed. Prince William, meanwhile, debuted a beard of his own back in August. And to the delight of his fans, who can’t get enough of his rugged facial hair, it looks here to stay. His daughter, Princess Charlotte, however, was less than impressed.

William was asked about his stubble at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town in November, and he admitted: “Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.”