What Does the Skin Do? (7 Functions)
May 6, 2026
What does the skin do? (7 functions) The skin is far more than just the body’s outer covering; it is the largest and heaviest organ in the human body. Often referred to as the “integumenta...
The striking difference between Prince William’s scalp and Prince Harry’s “lovely ginger locks” has been a topic of public fascination for years.
Whilst the brothers share the same parents, their hairlines have followed vastly different trajectories. To understand why, we have to look beyond simple “chance” and dive into the biology of the Royal bloodline.
Prince William’s hair loss is the result of a common genetic condition known as Androgenetic Alopecia, more frequently referred to as male pattern baldness. This condition is driven by a sensitivity to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone that causes hair follicles to shrink over time until they stop producing hair entirely.
While both brothers carry the genetic potential for hair loss, the way these genes “express” themselves varies. In William’s case, the onset was aggressive, starting in his early twenties.
It is a common myth that baldness is only inherited from the mother’s side. In reality, it is a polygenic trait inherited from both parents. The House of Windsor has a strong history of male pattern baldness:
King Charles III: Has experienced significant thinning on the crown for decades.
Prince Philip: The late Duke of Edinburgh had a classic horseshoe pattern of baldness by middle age.
The Spencer Side: Even the Earls Spencer (Princess Diana’s family) show signs of thinning, meaning the brothers were hit with a “double whammy” of genetic predisposition.
The contrast between the two brothers became a point of contention in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. Harry noted the physical distance growing between them, writing:
“I looked at Willy, really looked at him, maybe for the first time since we were boys. I took it all in: his familiar scowl, which had always been his default in dealings with me; his alarming baldness, more advanced than my own; his famous resemblance to Mummy, which was fading with time. With age.”
While Harry has joked about William’s hair loss, he isn’t entirely immune. Recent photos show that Harry is also experiencing thinning at the crown. However, his hair loss is progressing at a much slower rate.
This “genetic lottery” happens because siblings only share about 50% of their DNA; Harry simply didn’t inherit the same aggressive combination of DHT-sensitive receptors that William did.
In the battle of the hairlines, Prince William’s rapid hair loss is a textbook case of Androgenetic Alopecia, likely accelerated by a strong genetic legacy from both Prince Philip and King Charles. While Prince Harry has retained more of his hair into his late thirties, the “Windsor thinning” appears to be catching up with him eventually—it just took a different path.
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