Prince William brings back beard as he breaks cover after Prince Harry reunion

Prince William has returned to royal duties today, just days after coming face-to-face with estranged brother Prince Harry – and he brought back his much-debated beard.

The Prince of Wales toured a ground-breaking homelessness exhibition featuring art created by former rough sleepers in his first public engagement since the summer holidays. William’s Homewards project, which aims to develop a blueprint for eradicating homelessness in all its forms, is the driving force behind the art attraction which opened at the Saatchi Gallery in London in August.

exhibition comes after William and Harry both attended a memorial of their uncle Lord Fellowes, the late husband of their aunt and Princess Diana’s older sister Jane, in Norfolk last week. William and Harry have not spoken for months and currently have no contact, choosing to stay apart from each other even when in the same room for the service.

William’s unshaven look today also caused a stir several weeks ago when he and Kate appeared in a video that was posted on their Instagram page congratulating Team GB for its performance at the Paris Olympics. Dressed casually in a polo shirt, William said: “Well done on all you achieved” in the clip. But many viewers were left distracted by his stubble. However, while driving to Crathie Kirk days later on his Balmoral holiday, the Prince of Wales was clean-shaven, with the beard gone.

It led to royal fans saying they were left ‘in mourning’ that his much-talked-about beard appeared to have been shaved off. But today it was back as he visited the gallery.

Today, while at the gallery, William meet some of the artists who have contributed to the exhibition, including photographer Rankin, and chatted to some of the young people who helped create the artwork from doors. Called Homelessness: Reframed, the exhibition features sculptures, photographs and everyday objects given a new life by artists, who may have experienced homelessness, in a bid to tell personal stories and give a fresh perspective on the issue.The attraction has three parts: a collection of mainly hand-drawn signs sometimes seen next to a person sleeping rough, artwork commissions, and doors turned into art by young people, from the six areas where Homewards is working, during workshops led by local artists who have been homeless

Award-winning social justice artist David Tovey created Home 2013, a shed-like structure made from scraps of metal and panels from a Peugeot 206, the model of car the artist lived in for six months. Mick Clarke, chief executive of homelessness charity, The Passage, said Mr Tovey had used the charity’s services and now hosted art classes at one of its residential projects.

He added: “What I love about the Reframed exhibition is this gives an opportunity again to put a spotlight on how we’ve got to get homelessness away from something society thinks is inevitable and something that we manage, to something that can be prevented from happening.”

The Passage, which William supports as royal patron, helped the Homewards team find artists for the exhibition, and its chief executive added: “You have this exhibition where it’s taking people on the journey of homelessness and the trauma people have been through, but also the positivity coming out the other end.”

Kensington Palace announced the engagement several weeks ago and also confirmed William will be heading to Wales next week. On Tuesday, he will travel to Llanelli in South Wales to celebrate Welsh sport and culture and visit a primary school, a women’s rugby team and the Wales Air Ambulance.

William’s appearance today also comes after sources revealed that Harry would not return to the royal fold unless he received an apology from his older brother. The Duke of Sussex is focused on “making a success of his life” in the United States and maintains he is happy with his decision on choosing to quit as a working royal, sources close to the Harry suggest. However, it remains that he would be open to taking up a temporary role within the family to “help out” if he was asked to do so by the King.

Harry’s friends say he is aware of his brother’s feelings on the matter after The Mirror previously revealed William suggested there was “zero chance” he would be welcomed back into the fold after penning his explosive memoir, Spare.

Reports at the weekend suggested Harry had contacted a group of former trusted advisors as well as old pals to create a “blueprint” outlining how he might one day begin moving in UK circles again. But The Mirror understands this is “far from his mind” and any contact with former aides would be “purely for strategic and friendly advice”, rather than any plot to return to the fold.

Sources close to Harry say given the Royal Family’s position this year, with the King and Princess of Wales both forced to take extended periods of leave from duties due to cancer treatment, the Duke remains open and willing to assist if he was called upon.

Harry’s friends say he is also determined to improve his relationship with his father, especially given his recent health woes. However, the Duke – who turns 40 next week – would still look for an apology from his warring brother if he were to represent the family in any capacity.