Is it OK for a family member to insist the groom gets rid of his beard – or the bride or groom to dictate a certain look for members of the wedding party? “I definitely think for guys nowadays having a beard or being stubbly on your wedding day is perfectly normal.”įor Wyse, “As long as a beard is kept well-trimmed, it is perfectly acceptable. “I think it's quite an old school thing to be clean-shaven now, even for work, unless it's needed for safety reasons – I know that's the case for firemen, for example” he suggests. “It is, however, an exception from the normal rules, so it is probable Harry would have asked the Queen for permission to wear a beard as a courtesy.”Ĭelebrity hairstylist and groomer Luke Benson (/lukebensonhair) agrees banning beards is no longer the norm in most circumstances.

“Members of the royal family who are expected to wear uniform on ceremonial occasions, even when they are long-retired from service, do occasionally wear beards with Army, Marines and RAF uniforms,” Wyse explains. The beard, however, is a long-standing Navy tradition.”īut when it comes to modern royals donning uniforms, the same rules don't necessarily apply. She continues: “Since 1916 beards have been banned (with some exceptions) by the British Army and moustaches only are allowed in the Army, Marines and RAF.

“The whole beard question is tied up with the military.” “There is no traditional compulsion for men to shave off beards or facial hair on formal occasions,” says Elizabeth Wyse, etiquette advisor at Debrett's (). So who's correct? We asked grooming and etiquette experts for their take. Some people on social media insist Harry should have been clean-shaven for such a high profile event, while others argue it's down to the groom's personal preference. Harry told ITV's Tom Bradby: “I think William found it hard that other people told him to shave it off, and yet here I was on my wedding day wearing military uniform, no longer in the military, but thinking as though I – believing as though I should shave it off before my wedding day.” Harry revealed he asked permission from the Queen to keep his beard for his wedding, suggesting his older brother was unhappy about the decision.

In what's being called #beardgate on Twitter, the 38-year-old said the Prince of Wales ordered him to shave off his beard before his own wedding in 2018. Following the Duke of Sussex's explosive televised interview to promote his memoir, Spare, one of the key talking points revolves around Harry's facial hair.

Duke looks like a groomsman