Bad Heir Day For Balding William

Nov 2007

The Prince is heading the way of his uncle Prince Edward who began shedding his locks in his early 20s

Prince William is becoming one of Europe’s crown heads a bit earlier than expected.

Just six years ago the heir to the throne sported a fine head of hair, fit for a prince.

But now the crown of his head is plainly visible and his hairline is receding noticeably.

First it was polo, then the Army. Now Wills seems to be following the Windsor family tradition of losing his hair.

While younger brother Harry’s hair remains firmly rooted in place – at least for the moment – William’s golden locks appear to be rapidly thinning.

Spotted leaving his favourite haunt, the Mahiki nightclub in central London, the 25-year-old Prince’s rapidly balding patch was there for all to see as he was whisked away at 3am yesterday.

His uncle Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son, began to lose his hair at the age of 21. And his father Prince Charles was 28 when he was first identified as suffering hair loss.

Studies suggest that whether or not a man’s maternal grandfather loses his hair acts as a particularly strong guide to his own likelihood of going bald.

Earl Spencer, the father of William’s mother Princess Diana, was also thin on top – meaning the genetic odds appear to be stacked against both him and Harry keeping their hair.

And Charles’s father Prince Philip was 37 when he started to reveal that his hair was going the same way as that of his father, Prince Andrew of Greece. Charles was reportedly very upset when the Press picked up on his bald-spot in 1977.

He asked the photographer who revealed it to the world: “Was it really that bad?”, declaring: “Everybody has been looking at the back of my head ever since.”

This resulted in concerned members of the public sending the Prince of Wales various lotions and remedies to stem his hair loss. But, it would seem, to little effect.

Stress could be a factor, too. The last year has seen William break up, and subsequently reunite, with girlfriend Kate Middleton amid speculation that an engagement is on the cards.

They have both been relaxing at Balmoral this summer ... or perhaps we could say letting their hair down.