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Prince William brings summer beard back to work

Telegraph readers love the new stubbly look unveiled at exhibition by artists who have experienced homelessness

The Prince of Wales has brought his summer beard back to work, as he returned from his holidays for an engagement about homelessness sporting a jawline of stubble.
The Prince, who recently revealed a full beard during a video message for the Olympics, visited the Saatchi gallery in London to see an exhibition of artworks created by people who have experienced homelessness.
As well as admiring the exhibits, which were curated as part of his Homewards project, the Prince turned heads with a new look – a short but distinctive beard.
He had grown a beard in August, while his family were enjoying a summer break in Norfolk and Balmoral, but appeared to have shaved it off ahead of a visit to Crathie Kirk on Aug 25, when he was photographed driving a car with the Princess and their children as passengers.
As he arrived at the Saatchi gallery on Thursday afternoon, fans waiting outside immediately noticed that his stubble was back.
Some 64 per cent of Telegraph readers, who answered a poll via the Royal Appointment newsletter, said they liked Prince William’s new look.
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the future of his beard.
Called Homelessness: Reframed, the exhibition has been staged by Homewards, the Prince’s charity which aims to change perceptions of homelessness and eradicate it.
In particular, it works to intervene earlier to stop people becoming homeless, from sleeping on the streets to sofa surfing.
The art exhibition, which runs until Sept 20 and is free to view, features sculptures, photographs and everyday objects given a new life by artists with personal experience of homelessness.
It includes a wall of handwritten cardboard signs once held by those seeking help on the streets, and also includes works from established artists including photographer Rankin.
The Prince used the exhibition to speak of his hopes of “changing perceptions” of homelessness.
During a visit which overran by one hour, he said he was “really pleased, so pleased” to hear that 25,000 people have visited the exhibition in the last 23 days, after organisers planned for 5,000.
He was said to be stunned at a life-sized shed-like structure sculpture made by former soldier and rough sleeper David Tovey, from an old Peugeot 206 he once lived in.
Award-winning social justice artist Mr Tovey created Home 2013 from scraps of metal and panels from the car he once lived in for six months.
“Do you think we’ve got the right tone?” the Prince asked Mr Tovey of the display in general. “I really want people to feel this, experience it. To change perceptions.”
Mr Tovey said afterwards: “When I was first asked by him I was like ‘Are you mad? Do you really want me to do this?’ So for me it is everything. Hopefully galleries will realise the impact and open their eyes.
“He was pretty impressed. We mainly talked about the military and what I have been through. It’s something he really cares about.
“He spoke to me about how emotions are taken out of you in the military.
“He said: ‘They are sometimes really hard to get back, aren’t they? How are you doing?’ I was ‘yes, I’m still working on it’.
“He suggested maybe we could take it on tour, the whole thing. I think we are, in the six locations Homewards is working in. That would be amazing.”
Uche Eneke, 42, spent 13 years in sub-standard temporary accommodation with her two young sons now aged nine and 16, which took a toll on their health, and has three of her photographs displayed.
“I said to my group, wow, he really listened. He looked like he heard me and asked genuine questions,” she said afterwards.
“He wanted to hear my experiences and, crucially, learn what the solutions were. He wanted to know where I found support.
“His backing means everything. Once you get backing from someone like himself, people really sit up. You get noticed.
“Coming from his position he could not want to make a difference, but he does. He has all sorts of brickbats thrown at him and he takes on the chin and gets on with this.”
Artist Robi Walters, who endured childhood trauma in care, also spoke with the Prince.
“He talked to me about his idea, his vision,” said Mr Walters. “How he wanted to educate people about this whole, complex issue. He’s got such a huge public profile and platform and he could choose to focus on anything, but he chooses this. The fact that he has chosen to do this and put his money where his mouth is, well that’s really remarkable.”
The photographer Rankin told the Prince: “I’ve loved being part of it.”
The Prince was also reunited with an old friend, Big Issue seller Dave Martin, whom he has previously teamed up with to sell the magazine on the street.
“Dave, lovely to see you again. How have you been?” the Prince asked
Mr Martin has contributed a piece of work featuring abstract geometric shapes which represent aspects of his life including pathways, a roof over his head and windows to see the light.
He said: “He recognised my work straight away.”
Afterwards, the Prince told him: “If I don’t see you soon, take care.”
Mick Clarke, chief executive of homelessness charity The Passage which helped the Homewards team find artists for the exhibition, said: “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.
“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.”
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.

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