Prince William rocks a beard in video with Kate as pair congratulate Team GB ahead of Olympics closing ceremony

PRINCE William rocked a beard in a new video with Princess Kate as the couple thanked Team GB ahead of the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony.

The royal pair’s clip – shared across their social media channels this evening – also features the likes of Snoop Dogg, David Beckham and Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill , but Wills’ rugged look is all fans can focus on.

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The closing ceremony included a showstopping appearance by Hollywood star Tom Cruise .

Team GB’s impressive haul saw the likes of Keely Hodgkinson , Tom Pidcock and Alex Yee win gold, while Katarina Johnson-Thompson , Josh Kerr and Adam Peaty picked up agonising silver medals in a heroic campaign.

Kate and William’s post said: “Well done @TeamGB, what an incredible journey!

“Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart and passion. You made us all so proud!

“Here’s to celebrating every triumph at @Paris2024 and looking forward to more from @ParalympicsGB later in the summer.”

In the video, Kate, seen in a striped top, says: “From all of us watching at home, congratulations to Team GB.”

William, wearing a Team GB shirt, then adds: “Well done with all you’ve achieved. You’ve been an inspiration to us all.”

The royal couple shot their portion of the video in what appears to be the garden of their home, Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Castle estate.

They are currently on holiday from royal duties, with the Prince of Wales sporting a more rugged look with thick stubble on his face.

And fans were quick to take note of his new appearance.

One commented: “Pardon me ladies… I need to cool down. Prince William looks so handsome with a bit of facial stubble.”

Another added: “Oh William.”

And a third said: “THE BEARD?!”

A fourth said: “Love the beard – it really suits you.”

Body language expert Judi James told The Sun William’s beard, while allowing him to look “terribly rugged”, also signifies he is currently focusing on his role as a family man rather than needing his clean-shaven look seen on royal duties.

Ms James said he is clearly “dedicating himself totally to time off” with his wife and their kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

She noted that William last had a beard in 2008 when he got back together with Kate during a brief break in their relationship.

She added that it could be a “similarly symbolic form of celebration” now that Kate is “back at his side in public again” after her health scares.

She said he is rocking “not just chin hair but a glimpse of some chest hair emerging from that open-neck shirt, too”.

“He seems to have shaved his head hair shorter but more than compensated with his beard, which also signals the fact that he has been taking his family time really seriously and dedicating himself totally to time off with his wife and children,” Ms James continued.

In the video, the expert said William is happy to take a supporting role with Kate taking centre stage.

She described him as his wife’s “sexy-looking wing-man” who is “standing beside but slightly behind her, looking terribly rugged”.

Ms James continued: “It implies both strength, support and toughness here as well as showing the kind of off-duty vibe that defines him in a new role as dedicated husband and dad under extraordinary circumstances.

“It sends out reassuring signals that he has ‘got this’, with a suggestion of dedication and putting Kate’s needs first.”

Snoop Dogg started and finished the video itself wearing a half and half blazer, coloured blue and white, alongside a red and white scarf.

The rapper opens with “greetings loved ones” and ends it with the words “thank you Great Britain, on behalf of big Snoop Dogg, the prince and his lovely wife”.

Beckham said: “Hey Team GB, we are so proud of you. Congratulations.”

Some of the others who featured in the video include former swimmer Rebecca Adlington , former track and field athlete Ennis-Hill, former middle distance runner Dame Kelly Holmes , presenter and author Greg James and TV presenter Emma Willis .

King Charles has also hailed the competitors saying he and wife Queen Camilla are “sending our warmest congratulations”.

He went on to thank France for hosting and said the couple look forward to the Paralympics.

The Prime Minister is among the other high profile figures to have congratulated Team GB’s athletes today.

Sir Keir Starmer posted on X, formerly Twitter: “To all our incredible @TeamGB athletes and support staff, well done and congratulations.

“You’re bringing home more than just medals. You’ve inspired a new generation of athletes while entertaining a nation. Thank you.”

GB MEDALS HAUL

Great Britain ended the Paris Olympics with 65 medals – the same amount won at London 2012 and second-best ever tally on foreign soil – with only the United States (126) and China (91) claiming more.

But Team GB won eight fewer gold medals than in Tokyo three years ago and were 13 down on the 27 collected at Rio 2016.

A final return of 14 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze saw Britain slip to seventh spot in the medal table – its lowest place since finishing 10th at Athens 2004 – and third-best European nation behind hosts France and the Netherlands.

Traditional Olympic sports such as athletics, cycling and swimming returned medals, while rowing banished its Tokyo nightmare to win three golds in a strong regatta.

But newer sports such as skateboarding, taekwondo and trampolining also had success, while Team GB won its first-ever medals in sport climbing.

Team GB have already made a start to planning for the Los Angeles 2028 Games by securing Stanford University as its exclusive preparation camp.

King Charles hails competitors as Paris Olympics come to an end

The King has sent a message to mark the end of the Paris Olympics, congratulating competitors and describing them as “an inspiration”.

The statement from Charles was released ahead of the closing ceremony on Sunday evening.

The King’s message reads: “My wife joins me in sending our warmest congratulations to the competitors and their support teams from Team GB and across the whole Commonwealth, for their many outstanding successes at the Olympic Games in Paris.

“Your achievements, across so many disciplines, were forged from that invaluable combination of raw talent, true grit and hard toil over many years, burnished these past weeks by sportsmanship and team spirit in the finest tradition of the Games.

“To those who missed out on the greatest prizes, you have most certainly not fallen short in the pride that you, too, have generated for your nations.

“As we thank France for hosting such a wonderful tournament and look to the Paralympics ahead, I can only say that you have all been an inspiration.”

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