Prince William Hires New Equerry — and They've Got More in Common Than Their Beards

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince William, Prince of Wales attends the Sovereign’s Parade on behalf of King Charles III at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell on Sept. 12, 2024 in Sleaford, England.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Williamhas a new right-hand man at work — and they share some similarities, both in their style and their resumes!

According to the outlet, Reynolds is replacing Lt. Cdr. Rob Dixon, who is heading back to the Royal Navy after four years as equerry for Prince William. Equerries are senior aides who assist members of the royal family with their official duties and come from one of the three branches of the British Armed Forces.

Prince William and Commander Rob Dixon attend the Sovereign’s Parade on behalf of King Charles at the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell on Sept. 12, 2024.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Dixon was pictured with the prince at theSovereign’s Paradeat RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire on Sept. 12, where William sported a beard with his military uniform for the first time ever. The Prince of Wales has historically been clean-shaven, and sparked a frenzy when he debuted some stubble in a video with his wifeKate Middleton, issued on Aug. 11 to congratulate Team Great Britain on their success at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Royal watchers were caught off-guard because it was thefirst timethat Prince William appeared with facial hair since 2008, when he wore a full beard for the royal family’s walk to church on Christmas at Sandringham. William then began training as a Search and Rescue Pilot for the RAF 2009 and later worked the job in Wales from 2010 to 2013, serving in an era when facial hair wasn’t allowed in the branch!

Prince William driving to church on Aug. 25, 2024, and as seen in an Aug. 11, 2024 video message congratulating Team Great Britain on their performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics.TheImageDirect.com; The Prince and Princess of Wales/X.com

TheImageDirect.com; The Prince and Princess of Wales/X.com

The RAFrelaxed the stancein 2019, and the British Army dropped the beard ban entirely in March of this year, thoughPrince Harrywrote in his 2023 memoirSparethat it caused tension with his brother whenQueen Elizabethgave him permission to have a beard at his wedding toMeghan Marklein 2018.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, continued that it was “not a small ask,” because beards were forbidden (at the time) in the Army, and he was getting married in military uniform. The Queen gave the green light, but Prince Harry wrote that his brother was “bristled” and told him to “shave it off.”

“Ah — there it was… He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he’d been denied,” Prince Harry wrote.

Kate Middleton and Prince William in an Aug. 11, 2024 video message congratulating Team Great Britain.The Prince and Princess of Wales/X.com

The Prince and Princess of Wales/X.com

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While Prince Williamseemed to shavethe summer stubble when he drove to church with Princess Kate near Balmoral Castle on Aug. 25, he returned to work on Sept. 5 in London, facial hair clearly visible. The Prince of Wales rocked some stubble again at theHomelessness: Reframedexhibit at the Saatchi Gallery, checking out the display connected to his Homewards campaign — and seems to be letting it grow since that engagement.

Prince William at an event for Homewards Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland on Sept. 19, 2024.Russell Cheyne - WPA Pool/Getty

Russell Cheyne - WPA Pool/Getty

source: people.com