Prince William brings back beard as he breaks cover after Prince Harry reunion

Prince William has returned to royal duties today, just days after coming face-to-face with estranged brother Prince Harry – and he brought back his much-debated beard.

The Prince of Wales toured a ground-breaking homelessness exhibition featuring art created by former rough sleepers in his first public engagement since the summer holidays. William’s Homewards project, which aims to develop a blueprint for eradicating homelessness in all its forms, is the driving force behind the art attraction which opened at the Saatchi Gallery in London in August.
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.
once again ( Image: PA)
William smiles as he arrives at the gallery
William smiles as he arrives at the gallery ( Image: Getty Images)
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William’s unshaven look today also caused a stir several weeks ago when he and Kate appeared in a video that was posted on their Instagram page congratulating Team GB for its performance at the Paris Olympics. Dressed casually in a polo shirt, William said: “Well done on all you achieved” in the clip. But many viewers were left distracted by his stubble. However, while driving to Crathie Kirk days later on his Balmoral holiday, the Prince of Wales was clean-shaven, with the beard gone.

It led to royal fans saying they were left ‘in mourning’ that his much-talked-about beard appeared to have been shaved off. But today it was back as he visited the gallery.

Today, while at the gallery, William meet some of the artists who have contributed to the exhibition, including photographer Rankin, and chatted to some of the young people who helped create the artwork from doors. Called Homelessness: Reframed, the exhibition features sculptures, photographs and everyday objects given a new life by artists, who may have experienced homelessness, in a bid to tell personal stories and give a fresh perspective on the issue.
William chats to some of the artists at the gallery today
William chats to some of the artists at the gallery today ( Image: Getty Images)
Award-winning social justice artist David Tovey created Home 2013, a shed-like structure made from scraps of metal and panels from a Peugeot 206, the model of car the artist lived in for six months. Mick Clarke, chief executive of homelessness charity, The Passage, said Mr Tovey had used the charity’s services and now hosted art classes at one of its residential projects.

He added: “What I love about the Reframed exhibition is this gives an opportunity again to put a spotlight on how we’ve got to get homelessness away from something society thinks is inevitable and something that we manage, to something that can be prevented from happening.”

The Passage, which William supports as royal patron, helped the Homewards team find artists for the exhibition, and its chief executive added: “You have this exhibition where it’s taking people on the journey of homelessness and the trauma people have been through, but also the positivity coming out the other end.”