The Big Clue That Kate Middleton Likes Prince William's Beard, According to Their Former Aide

Mar. 15, 2025

It appears thatKate Middletonis a fan ofPrince William’s beard, and their former royal aide just revealed how he knows.Jason Knauf, a former royal aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales, spoke in a new interview with60 Minutes Australia,which ended with a major question: his thoughts on Prince William’s beard.“I love it. I think it’s great,” Knauf said with a laugh. “But I’ve talked to him about it — or tried to talk to him about it. He’s like, ‘It’s here. I have a beard.’ No further conversation.' “When asked if Kate liked the look, which William has beensporting since the summer, Knauf replied: “If she didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be there. I could tell you that.“Knauf currently works with Prince William as a member of theboard of trusteesfor the royal’s Earthshot Prize. He worked as a communications secretary to Prince William and Princess Kate as well asPrince HarryandMeghan Marklebefore becoming the role of chief executive of the Prince and Princess of Wales' Royal Foundation, a position he held until 2021.Prince William, 42,revealed his facial hair in a videoreleased in August to celebrate team Great Britain as the 2024Paris Olympicswrapped, growing out his beard for the first time in public since 2008.Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!Prince William during a visit to the London Screen Academy in London on Feb. 12, 2025.KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via GettyWilliamseemed to shavea few weeks later, stepping out sans-beard when he drove to Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland with Princess Kate on Aug. 25. However, thestubble was backa couple of weeks later when the Prince of Wales visited theHomelessness: Reframedexhibit at the Saatchi Gallery in London.While Princess Kate is into her husband’s new look, Prince William shared in a Nov. 7 interview that another family member needed more convincing. Seemingly explaining why the beard disappeared then came back, he said his 9-year-old daughter,Princess Charlotte, “didn’t like it the first time.““I got floods of tears — the first one I got tears, so I had to shave it off,” he said. “Then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay.“Prince William and Kate Middleton attend Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony on Jan. 27, 2025.ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via GettyWhen a reporter noted that the royal’s facial hair gave him a “relaxed” look, Prince William replied that wasn’t exactly the case.“It’s interesting you say that because I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that,” he said, referring to how both his wife and father,King Charles, had been diagnosed with cancer in 2024. “But it’s more a case of just crack on, and you’ve got to keep going.“Knauf also spoke on60 Minutes Australiaabout Prince Williamlearning of King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosesas well asPrince William’s ongoing rift with Prince Harry.

It appears thatKate Middletonis a fan ofPrince William’s beard, and their former royal aide just revealed how he knows.

Jason Knauf, a former royal aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales, spoke in a new interview with60 Minutes Australia,which ended with a major question: his thoughts on Prince William’s beard.

“I love it. I think it’s great,” Knauf said with a laugh. “But I’ve talked to him about it — or tried to talk to him about it. He’s like, ‘It’s here. I have a beard.’ No further conversation.' "

When asked if Kate liked the look, which William has beensporting since the summer, Knauf replied: “If she didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be there. I could tell you that.”

Knauf currently works with Prince William as a member of theboard of trusteesfor the royal’s Earthshot Prize. He worked as a communications secretary to Prince William and Princess Kate as well asPrince HarryandMeghan Marklebefore becoming the role of chief executive of the Prince and Princess of Wales' Royal Foundation, a position he held until 2021.

Prince William, 42,revealed his facial hair in a videoreleased in August to celebrate team Great Britain as the 2024Paris Olympicswrapped, growing out his beard for the first time in public since 2008.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince William during a visit to the London Screen Academy in London on Feb. 12, 2025.KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty

KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty

Williamseemed to shavea few weeks later, stepping out sans-beard when he drove to Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral Castle in Scotland with Princess Kate on Aug. 25. However, thestubble was backa couple of weeks later when the Prince of Wales visited theHomelessness: Reframedexhibit at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

While Princess Kate is into her husband’s new look, Prince William shared in a Nov. 7 interview that another family member needed more convincing. Seemingly explaining why the beard disappeared then came back, he said his 9-year-old daughter,Princess Charlotte, “didn’t like it the first time.”

“I got floods of tears — the first one I got tears, so I had to shave it off,” he said. “Then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second, and I convinced her it was going to be okay.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton attend Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony on Jan. 27, 2025.ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty

ARTHUR EDWARDS/POOL/AFP via Getty

When a reporter noted that the royal’s facial hair gave him a “relaxed” look, Prince William replied that wasn’t exactly the case.

“It’s interesting you say that because I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that,” he said, referring to how both his wife and father,King Charles, had been diagnosed with cancer in 2024. “But it’s more a case of just crack on, and you’ve got to keep going.”

Knauf also spoke on60 Minutes Australiaabout Prince Williamlearning of King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosesas well asPrince William’s ongoing rift with Prince Harry.

source: people.com