Queen orders Prince Harry to have a shave

Prince Harry sprouted his ginger whiskers during a charity walk to the South Pole. Photo / Getty

Prince Harry's ginger beard might be on trend, but the Queen isn't happy with her grandson's growth.

The 29-year-old royal sprouted the facial fuzz last month during his Walking With The Wounded charity trek to the South Pole.

He returned to Britain just in time for Christmas. His brother, Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton are fans of the "Windsor whiskers", but his grandmother, The Queen, wants them gone, according to Express.

"The rest of the family liked it and were taking the mickey, especially his cousin Zara who dubbed him 'Prince Hairy'," said a royal insider.

"But the Queen soon let her displeasure be known. She doesn't mind royal men growing beards when they are away in the Armed Forces or out in the wilds like Harry was in the Antarctic, but she expects them to be clean-shaven when they get home.

"Royal staff are not supposed to grow beards or moustaches and she probably thinks it is difficult to enforce that rule when her own grandson has a beard.

"Harry doesn't like to upset the Queen and will probably shave it off soon but he is still a bit of a rebel and he wasn't going to remove it straight away."

Express claimed Prince Harry wanted to show-off the beard to his 24-year-old girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, before grooming.

Prince Harry's girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, hasn't seen the ginger beard yet. Photo / Getty

While it's not written in their contract, it is "frowned upon" for royal staff to grow facial hair, said a Buckingham Palace official.

"You are told not to grow a beard or moustache and that comes from the top.

"It would not go down well if you tried it on. The Queen thinks they look scruffy and are inappropriate at work."

- www.nzherald.co.nz