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Prince Harry's decision to keep his beard for his wedding to Meghan Markle sparked a debate about royal grooming routines and military rules. Harry, a Captain in the British Royal Army, retained his signature beard for the wedding, despite a longstanding rule prohibiting troops in uniform from having facial hair. This decision led to a disagreement with his brother, Prince William, who had previously been ordered to shave his own beard. Harry's choice to break tradition and seek permission from the Queen to keep his beard highlighted a shift in norms and sparked discussions about personal preference and modern etiquette.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Prince Harry shave his beard for his wedding? | No |
| Did he ask permission from the Queen to keep his beard? | Yes |
| Did his brother, William, want him to shave it off? | Yes |
| Did Harry serve in the military? | Yes |
| Is there a rule in the British military about facial hair? | Yes, troops in uniform cannot have facial hair |
| Did Harry wear a uniform to his wedding? | Yes |
| Did Harry trim his beard for his wedding? | Yes |
| Did Harry's great-grandfather, King George V, have a beard? | Yes |
| Did Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, like facial hair? | No |
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What You'll Learn
Harry's beard was a topic of debate before his wedding
Harry's decision to keep his beard sparked a debate about the appropriateness of facial hair on formal occasions. Some people argued that Harry should have been clean-shaven for such a high-profile event, while others felt it was a matter of the groom's personal preference. Grooming and etiquette experts weighed in on the debate, with some suggesting that there is no traditional compulsion for men to shave off facial hair for formal events, while others recommended keeping any beards neatly trimmed.
Harry's choice to retain his beard also led to a disagreement with his brother, Prince William, who had been ordered to shave off his own beard. Harry revealed that he sought permission from Queen Elizabeth II to keep his beard, suggesting that William was unhappy with this decision. Harry described his beard as "almost like a shield to my anxiety" and felt that shaving it off before his wedding would make him feel like a different person. He also noted that Meghan Markle had always known him with a beard and might not recognize him without it.
The debate surrounding Harry's beard also brought attention to the royal family's views on facial hair. While Queen Elizabeth II was known to prefer clean-shaven faces and had previously ordered her husband to shave his beard, Harry's great-grandfather, King George V, had sported a beard despite his role in the Army. Ultimately, Harry's decision to keep his beard for his wedding day reflected a shift in norms and personal preferences regarding facial hair.
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Harry asked the Queen's permission to keep his beard
Prince Harry did not shave his beard for his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. Instead, he broke with tradition and kept his signature ginger beard, albeit neatly trimmed for the occasion.
Harry's decision to keep his beard caused some controversy, as there is a longstanding rule in the British military that states troops in uniform cannot have facial hair. As Harry wore his Army uniform to his wedding, it was expected that he would be clean-shaven. However, in his memoir, *Spare*, Harry revealed that he had asked his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, for permission to keep his beard, and she had granted it. According to historian Hugo Vickers, Harry may have been granted permission because he is retired from active service. There are only a few exceptions in the British Army that allow for servicemen to have a beard, such as for skin complaints or religious reasons.
Harry's choice to keep his beard caused a disagreement with his brother, Prince William, who had previously been told to shave off his own beard. In an interview, Harry suggested that William was unhappy that he had been ordered to shave by others, while Harry had been allowed to keep his beard. Harry also described his beard as "almost like a shield to my anxiety" and felt that it represented the "new Harry".
Harry's great-grandfather, King George V, also had a beard and often wore it with his Army uniform, setting a precedent for bearded royals. Harry's decision to keep his beard for his wedding sparked a debate about the etiquette of facial hair, with some arguing that it should be down to the groom's personal preference, while others maintained that it was an exception to the normal rules.
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Harry's beard was against military rules
Harry's decision to retain his beard sparked debate, with some arguing that he was breaking protocol and violating long-standing norms. After all, Harry is a Captain in the British Royal Army, and it is expected that members of the military abide by their regulations when in uniform.
However, others defended Harry's choice, noting that he had already retired from the military and was not technically bound by military regulations. Additionally, some argued that personal preference should dictate whether a groom chooses to have a beard on their wedding day.
Harry himself described his beard as "almost like a shield to my anxiety," suggesting that shaving it off would have been a drastic change for him. He also mentioned that his wife, Meghan Markle, had always known him with a beard, and he wanted to look like himself on his wedding day.
It is worth noting that Harry is not the first royal to skirt this tradition. His great-grandfather, King George V, also sported a beard despite his role in the Army. Ultimately, while Harry's beard may have been against traditional military rules, he chose to prioritize his personal comfort and sense of self on his wedding day.
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Harry's beard was a point of contention with his brother, William
Harry's decision to keep his beard caused a rift between the brothers, with William allegedly ordering Harry to shave it off. Harry wrote in his memoir, Spare, that William's anger was due to his own inability to keep a beard after returning from a military assignment, stating, "He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he'd been denied." Harry also speculated that William was angry because he thought the Queen had a "soft spot" for him.
The disagreement between the brothers continued over the phone for a week, with Harry ultimately defying his brother's wishes and keeping his beard for the wedding. Harry described his beard as "almost like a shield to my anxiety," and many have agreed that it is now normal for grooms to have facial hair on their wedding day. Harry's great-grandfather, King George V, also wore a beard despite his role in the Army, setting a precedent for bearded royals.
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Harry's beard was well-groomed for his wedding
Harry himself weighed in on the debate, revealing that his brother, William, had ordered him to shave his beard before the wedding. Harry also admitted that he asked permission from the Queen to keep his beard, suggesting that his brother was unhappy about the decision. The Queen, who had previously expressed her dislike of Harry's beard, ultimately allowed him to keep it.
In the end, Harry chose to keep his beard for the wedding, albeit neatly trimmed and closely groomed. This caused a bit of a stir, with some people on social media insisting he should have been clean-shaven for such a high-profile event. However, others argued that it was down to the groom's personal preference. Harry's decision to keep his beard was a break from tradition, but not an unprecedented one, as his great-grandfather, King George V, had also sported a beard during his time in the Army.
Harry's well-groomed beard on his wedding day set a new precedent, challenging the old-school notion that men should always be clean-shaven for formal occasions. It also sparked a conversation about the importance of personal preference and comfort when it comes to one's wedding day look. Ultimately, Harry's decision to keep his beard, with Meghan's blessing, reflected his desire to stay true to himself and his sense of style, even amid the pressure and tradition of a royal wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Prince Harry did not shave his beard for his wedding.
Harry described his beard as "a shield for his anxiety". He also felt that his wife-to-be, Meghan Markle, would not recognise him without the beard, as it had become a signature part of his look since they had started dating.
Yes, Prince William wanted Harry to shave his beard for his wedding. Harry writes in his memoir, *Spare*, that William took issue with his decision to keep his beard and ordered him to shave it off. William had previously been told to shave off his own beard.
Yes, Harry asked the Queen's permission to keep his beard for his wedding. She allowed him to, despite it being against military rules and her personal preference for clean-shaven men.
