Prince William debuted a newly shaved head on Thursday, Jan. 18, during a royal appearance at the Evelina London Children's Hospital in Lambeth to support the Step Into Health program of Britain's National Health Service.
Members of the royal family often do not hold back when it comes to teasing Prince William about his receding hairline. The prince himself would often joke about it. However, there would not be much to joke about this time because he has shaved his hair.
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Prince William still sported a few streaks of hair on his head during a royal appearance in Coventry, England with his pregnant wife Kate Middleton. Then he took the plunge and bravely opted to have them completely shaved off for his Thursday visit at the hospital.
The Duke of Cambridge revealed a close-shaven style-military cut — during his visit to meet armed forces veterans working in the National Health Service. The 35-year-old definitely had people talking about his buzzed head. His new hairdo was more noticeable to the people he met at the hospital. Photos from his visit also show him pointing at his buzz cut to curious school kids.
Prince William shaved his head following the advice of his wife Kate Middleton and her long-time hairdresser Richard Ward. Ward asked Joey Wheeler, senior stylist at Ward's salon, to oversee the process. Wheeler, who has worked for Ward at his salon for 11 years, shaved Prince William's head in a private session at the Kensington Palace.
"Wills sought Richard's advice, but it was Joey who was the one to visit the Palace and give him his new buzz cut," a source close to the hairstylists said.
No clippers touched the royal's head. Instead, Wheeler used the "scissors over comb" freehand technique to give the shave a softer finish.
Prince William reportedly decided to have his head shaved because he has had enough of his brother, Prince Harry, teasing him. The 33-year-old would often joke about his brother's thinning hair in public and would tease that Prince William is going bald. Prince Harry told a World War II veteran during his 2010 visit in Barbados that the Duke of Cambridge was already bald at 12 years old.
Kate Middleton also took a jab at her husband's receding hairline during a visit to the Sydney Royal Easter Show in Australia in 2014. The Duchess of Cambridge suggested that her husband could use a tuft of alpaca wool to cover his bald spot.
The Duke of Cambridge has arrived at @EvelinaLondon, meeting the wonderful and brave children receiving treatment. He’s being shown around by former veterans who found work in the NHS thanks to Step Into Health. pic.twitter.com/QJoEakIri8
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) January 18, 2018
