As Prince William celebrated his birthday on June 21, royal watchers reflected on a humorous moment involving Kate Middleton during a public royal appearance last year. While his birthday doesn’t typically include a Buckingham Palace balcony appearance, fans recently saw the royal family during “Trooping the Colour,” held in honor of King Charles’ official birthday. William attended Royal Ascot solo this year, as Kate continues to pace her return to public life. However, one standout memory resurfaced from the 2024 Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London, where Kate was caught in a playful exchange with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. According to body language expert Nicola Hickling, Sophie joked, “What, you like a beard?” referring to William’s facial hair, to which Kate replied, “I find it quite rousing.”

This cheeky exchange delighted fans, especially since Prince William has maintained his beard into 2025. Supporters took to social media to praise his new look, with comments like “William with a tan and a beard!!!!” and “Love the scruff, W!” highlighting public approval. Meanwhile, last year’s birthday celebration remains a fan-favorite, as William attended Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert at Wembley Arena with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The royal trio even met Swift and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, backstage—creating one of the most memorable royal pop-culture crossovers in recent years. While this year’s festivities were more low-key, these candid moments continue to endear the Prince and Princess of Wales to the public.