Prince William is ushering in a new era for the monarchy with his evolving style and relatable pastimes.

When he revealed a fresh beard last August, royal fans were quick to applaud his rugged look, urging him to embrace the change – and he listened.

William has not only maintained his updated appearance but also gravitated towards a more relaxed wardrobe, favouring smart-casual outfits over the traditional suits worn by King Charles.

This shift in style might reflect something deeper: William’s connection to ordinary life.

Whether it’s watching football, enjoying a curry, attending a concert or sipping a pint at the pub, the future king seems to give off a down-to-earth charm that resonates with many.

Casual wardrobe

William’s style has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years.

Moving away from traditional suits, he has introduced a fresh, modern edge to the monarchy with his smart-casual ensembles.

During a recent engagement on Merseyside, William showcased a fashionable fleece overshirt layered on top of a jumper, paired with slim-fitting chinos and tan trainers.

On another occasion, he sported a slim-fit blazer, shirt and chinos, finished off with a pair of crisp white trainers from Russell & Bromley.

His relaxed ensembles strike the ideal balance between comfort and style, while maintaining a smart appearance.

The white trainers, in particular, caused quite a sartorial stir.

Body language expert Judi James believes William’s evolving style ties into his increasing confidence, with his choice of footwear signifying a shift in attitude.

She previously told MailOnline: ‘William’s recent change of style and his much less cautious-looking and less formal body language seems to indicate both a growing confidence in terms of his stepping up to the throne and maybe an update in his priorities since Kate’s and his father’s illnesses.

‘White trainers look symbolic of William’s recent shift in attitude when he is working. Some of his signals of inherent shyness have decreased and he looks happy to be more immersive and more relaxed as a result.’

The prince is believed to have been working with stylist Natasha Archer, who is responsible for creating some of his wife Kate’s most iconic outfits.

Passion for football

Prince William has frequently been spotted at football matches, passionately supporting his beloved Aston Villa.

He has been a constant presence at the team’s European games this season, starting with their historic return to Champions League in a match against Bayern Munich at Villa Park.

The Prince of Wales was overjoyed after Villa’s first home game in Europe’s top competition in 41 years, admitting he had lost his voice from cheering during their 1-0 victory.

Reflecting on the moment, William shared that he ‘couldn’t quite believe’ manager Unai Emery’s side had pulled off the win.

The Prince showed every emotion as he watched the match, from tense anticipation to elated celebration.

Television cameras captured him jubilantly cheering, hugging those around him, and even giving a triumphant thumbs-up at full time.

Following the game, William described his excitement, saying, ‘I’ve lost my voice. I can’t quite believe it. 42 years.’

The Prince regularly visits Villa’s training ground, Bodymoor Heath, where he engages with manager Unai Emery and the players, schedule permitting.

Pub visit

In January, William surprised members of the public by stopping for a pint at a Wetherspoons pub on his way back from an official engagement.

The future king was spotted at the Birmingham New Street station pub after attending an event to mark his appointment as Patron of the College of Paramedics.

While there, he took the opportunity to chat with fellow Aston Villa fans, as his team was playing Everton that evening.

William enjoyed a pint of Bulmers cider and generously bought a round of beers for eight Villa supporters.

He stayed for about half an hour before catching a train back to London.

Steve Jones, a fellow Villa fan, said: ‘We were contacted by the club saying Prince William wanted to meet a delegation of Villa fans as he was in Birmingham as he wanted to keep in the loop with everything going on at Villa.

‘He was fantastic. I was quite amazed about how engaged he was with the club, his interest. He’s not a fair weather fan. He really loves the club with a passion.

‘We spoke about the club, the transfers, the pending Champions League trip to Monaco, and all things Aston Villa. He asked many questions – he’s got a good level of interest.

‘It was 95 per cent chat about Villa as that’s out shared interest but a bit about his family. Young George is a Villa fan but he didn’t want all three to be Villa fans.

‘He was massively interested and seemed a really genuine guy and all he wanted to do is talk about Villa.’

Family bike rides

During a recent visit to Cycle of Life, a non-profit cycling organisation in Toxteth, Liverpool, William shared how the family enjoys their bike rides together.

He helped a group of young people in building and maintaining bicycles before indulging in a hot chocolate, saying the warming beverage was ‘always welcome’.

As he tested the brakes on one bike, the prince said he believed the correct way to stop was to squeeze both brakes at the same time – putting safety first.

However, he joked that his children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – like to do things differently, and always skid past him on family bike rides.

‘My children quite like pulling just the back brake and sliding along. Usually the back wheel will come past you. There is a technique,’ he explained.

Taylor Swift concert

To mark his birthday in June last year, William took George and Charlotte to a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium, where they were joined by Zara and Mike Tindall.

The group enjoyed the night in the VIP box, with William notably showcasing his ‘dad moves’ on the dance floor.

They were part of the 90,000-strong crowd at Wembley, one of the most sought-after events in town, as Taylor kicked off the London leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour.

After the show, the Wales family posed for a selfie with the singer, which was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’s X account, accompanied by the caption: ‘Thank you Taylor Swift for a great evening!’

Love for curry

William and Kate have openly shared their love for curry, one of the most popular dishes in the UK.

In April 2023, the royal couple visited an Indian restaurant in Birmingham, where they revealed their fondness for curries and admitted they ‘secretly try lots of curry houses around the country’.

Kate described food as ‘so nostalgic’ and shared her love for spice. William, on the other hand, confessed a preference for milder dishes, saying, ‘I’m a masala man.’

When asked if their children enjoy Indian food, Kate confirmed: ‘Absolutely, they love it.’

The couple was introduced to the Indian Streatery restaurant’s owner, Meena Sharma, and her husband, Rakesh, before meeting the front-of-house team.

They then ventured into the kitchen, where they tried their hand at preparing rotis, a traditional flatbread.

At one point, William surprised Mrs Sharma by answering the phone to take an order, showcasing his playful side.

She said: ‘All of us around him were really surprised he actually picked up the phone and actually said “this is the Indian Streatery”, and there was a genuine person on the other end wanting to make a booking.

‘But I think he probably could have a role as a front of house manager, we could probably employ him to take phone calls in future as he did a really good job.’

Previously, during a Radio 1 interview with Scott Mills for their Heads Together Campaign in 2017, William and Kate revealed that they enjoy ordering curry while relaxing in comfortable clothes and watching Homeland or Game of Thrones at Kensington Palace.