Prince William’s shaved head gets a mixed response

Prince William has shaved his head, following years of family teasing about his receding hairline.

The 35-year-old Duke of Cambridge debuted the new look as he visited a London children’s hospital to mark the NHS new Step into Health initiative, which aims to help former military personnel find a second career in the health service. Arriving at the hospital, Prince William surprised onlookers with a glistening strip of scalp in place of his trademark receding hairline and “sunroof”.

After years of gradual decline, the sudden absence of William’s hair came as a shock to many. Some were unimpressed:

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However, the prince’s decision to put a dramatic end to years of encroaching baldness was applauded by those who had already taken the plunge:

William has often been the butt of teasing from his more follically-gifted brother, Harry, and even his father has previously got in on the act, Metro reports.

During his speech to guests at William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011, Prince Charles teased his son about his thinning thatch.

“The thing about growing older is that your children get taller than you so they can see your bald spots,” he said. “Now in my case, I can see his.”

It didn’t take long for the new Duchess of Cambridge to join in the family fun, either. On a 2014 visit to a country show, Kate gestured towards her husband’s head when shown a tuft of alpaca wool, “remarking: ‘You need it more than me,’” the Daily Mail reports.

Despite the teasing, William has remained a good sport when it comes to the subject of his scanty locks. Meeting the owners of a London barber shop in September 2017, the royal joked: “I can’t give you much business,” says Harper’s Bazaar.