Prince William's Cheeky Wisecrack on Hair Loss Sends Ripples Through Earthshot Prize Conversation

Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Prince William proved he lost his hair — but not his sense of humor — while discussing his Earthshot Prize initiative.

The Prince of Wales, aged 41, collaborated with U.K. YouTubers Sorted Food (Ben Ebbrell, Mike Huttlestone, Jamie Spafford, and Barry James Taylor), surprising fans with plant-based burgers. These burgers were created with the help of three of the 2022 Earthshot Prize winners and included vegetables that were grown in a innovative greenhouse-in-a-box.

"I wanted to introduce you guys to the Earthshot Prize, an initiative that I launched around two years ago. It took about four years to develop," William explained to the hosts of Sorted Food in a YouTube video uploaded on Sunday, July 30. He humorously added, "I actually had hair when it all began."

William's comment on his hairstyle, or rather the absence of it, is not the first instance where he has openly admitted his hair loss in public.

Following the birth of Prince George in 2013, William made a remark about his eldest's characteristics in front of journalists. (Apart from George, who is now 10 years old, William and Princess Kate also have the privilege of being parents to daughter Princess Charlotte, 8, and son Prince Louis, 5.)

"He has significantly more hair than me, thank goodness," William joked at the time.

A year later, during a visit to the Sydney Royal Easter Show in Australia, Kate, 41, playfully teased her husband about his thinning hair. After being shown a tuft of alpaca wool, exhibitor Lyn Crejan recalled, "The Princess suggested he should put it on his head. She remarked, 'You need it more than me,' and pointed to his head, which made him laugh."

Prince Harry, who has had a strained relationship with his brother since he and Meghan Markle decided to step away from their roles as senior members of the royal family in 2020, made a noteworthy comment about William's hair in his revealing memoir, Spare. In contrast to the lighthearted remarks made by William and Kate, Harry's observation was made with sincerity. Reflecting on a poignant moment when he looked at his brother, possibly for the first time since their childhood, Harry couldn't help but notice William's noticeable baldness and the diminishing resemblance to their late mother, Princess Diana.

Harry, 38, wrote, "He was a reflection of me in some aspects, yet a complete contrast in others. How did my cherished brother become my ultimate adversary?"

Last month, a source exclusively informed us that William, who is grappling with his baldness and his turbulent connection with Harry, is eagerly anticipating his visit to New York in September for the Earthshot Prize Summit. Additionally, he has numerous commitments and encounters scheduled during his two-day stay.

During his appearance on the Sorted Food YouTube Channel, William introduced Earthshot as an initiative that recognizes and supports those who are actively addressing the most pressing environmental issues. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy's ambitious "Moonshoot" project, William emphasized that the Earthshot Prize aims to safeguard our planet, rather than look towards other celestial bodies. In a lighthearted remark, William acknowledged the growing interest in colonizing other planets but strongly advocated for focusing on the preservation of Earth.