Don’t bet against the beard, it sets this young man apart

WHILE the lion’s share of attention about the stylistic nuances of the royal wedding has focused on Meghan Markle’s dress, the matter of Prince Harry’s luxuriant facial hair has gone relatively unnoticed.

Prince Harry looks set to raise traditionalists’ eyebrows by sporting a beard, if he chooses to wear military attire for his wedding today.

The Prince has had stubble on and off since 2013 when he completed an expedition to the South Pole, eventually growing a full beard when he retired from the military in 2015.

Much like his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry’s affinity for his time in active duty has seen him wear his Blues and Royals military dress on a number of occasions, most notably the wedding of his brother the Duke of Cambridge to Catherine Middleton in 2011.

Military protocol states that beards and whiskers are only to be worn when authorised and must be neat and tidy. However, as Prince Harry is no longer serving he is not breaking any rules, according to the Ministry of Defence.

If he does choose to sport his ginger tufts with pride, it will be a departure from the chiselled, cleanly shorn visages of royal men past. And whether he picks up the razor during his regal ablutions today or not, the Harry beard has helped define him – in a small way – as the prince who doesn’t abide by the stuffy rules of his ancestors.