ARMY chiefs have overturned a century-old ban on beards with backing from King Charles.
Regular troops and commissioned officers can now grow out facial hair for the first time since 1908.
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The Army’s top soldier Sergeant Major Paul Carney announced the “major policy change” with immediate effect last night.
But he insisted that the beards will have to be tidy. He insisted: “Our standards can’t stop”.
It was timed to let clean-shaven soldiers be able to start growing their whiskers out over the Easter leave.
It brings them in line with the Navy, whose sailors have worn beards for centuries, and the RAF which allowed them in 2019.
SAS and SBS troops are also allowed to have beards by tradition. The Sun revealed in December the axing of the ban was close.
WO1 Carney told troops in a video: “Getting to an outcome has taken a bit longer than expected due to the larger number of stakeholders that were involved, including His Majesty the King, our politicians and our allies.”
Serving troops and vets were also consulted.
Senior officers hope the shift will boost recruitment.