Prince William Shaves Off His Beard

Britain's Prince William has shaved off his beard following a romantic holiday with girlfriend Kate Middleton in Scotland. The 26-year-old royal - who has been sporting a large amount of facial hair for the past month - returned to his fuzz-free look after returning from the break at Birkhall, the Scottish estate belonging to his father Prince Charles and stepmother Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

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It has also been claimed William, who has been dating Kate for the past six years, was ordered to shave off his beard by RAF bosses before he starts training as a search and rescue pilot next week.

It was previously reported William grew the beard as a disguise when he worked undercover with the Special Boat Service in Barbados last year in a bid to combat drug trafficking and piracy in the area.

Speaking about his decision to undergo training as a search and rescue pilot, William said: "It has been a real privilege to have spent the past year understanding and experiencing all aspects of the British Armed Forces. I now want to build on the experience and training I have received to serve operationally. The time I spent with the RAF earlier this year made me realize how much I love flying."

"Joining search and rescue is a perfect opportunity for me to serve in the Forces operationally, while contributing to a vital part of the country's emergency services."