As Prince William sent US fans into a frenzy when he donned waders and a baseball cap to take a dip in the Hudson River during his New York trip, he appeared to roll back the years with his toned, casual and confident display.

With a tanned yet peachy complexion and a buff physique, the Prince of Wales, 41, proved he is in the prime of his life even as he raises three children – and he looked at ease during the exercise with the Billion Oyster Project, donning a baseball cap, waders and rolled-up sleeves.

But as he catches the eyes of a new cohort of fans across the pond, many royal lovers in the UK may have been surprised to see William in such fantastic shape after a few years in the wilderness as his sex symbol status appeared to fade slightly.

After gaining attention around the world in his teenage years for inheriting his late mother’s good looks and bone structure, William’s settling into family life saw him drop down the pecking order in the list of most dashing royals as he sported a more ‘dad’-like style and his hairline receded.

So how did the heir to the throne work his way back up to become a royal heartthrob once more? FEMAIL investigates William’s ‘glow up’ with the help of some experts – who believe the Prince’s willingness to adopt a less formal style and embrace the person he has become has added to his sex appeal.

The Prince of Wales set pulses racing this week as he sported a more casual look to attend a project in New York City. FEMAIL has chatted to experts about how William, 41, has regained his sex appeal

The Prince of Wales set pulses racing this week as he sported a more casual look to attend a project in New York City. FEMAIL has chatted to experts about how William, 41, has regained his sex appeal

The Prince of Wales set pulses racing this week as he sported a more casual look to attend a project in New York City. FEMAIL has chatted to experts about how William, 41, has regained his sex appeal

On his first day in New York, father-of-three William visited the Billion Oyster Project, which aims to make the waters around New York clean by putting a billion oyster shells in them by 2035 to act as natural filters.

As he got stuck into the project and helped to collect the shells, William showed his casual side with his shirt slightly buttoned down and rolled-up sleeves, plus water proof waders over beige chinos and a navy blue baseball cap.

One fan wrote: ‘Who new waders could look so good!’

Another, who praised the royal, referred to him as ‘our handsome and sexy Prince William.’

Many royal fans argued that William’s willingness to don the waders and get stuck in with the task at hand showed him at his very best as a ‘future king in action’.

Award-winning personal stylist Lisa Talbot revealed the Prince of Wales's reborn sex symbol status is partly down to his sharp sense of style

Award-winning personal stylist Lisa Talbot revealed the Prince of Wales's reborn sex symbol status is partly down to his sharp sense of style

Award-winning personal stylist Lisa Talbot revealed the Prince of Wales’s reborn sex symbol status is partly down to his sharp sense of style

One royal fan wrote on Twitter: ‘Prince William, such a handsome, global ambassador.’

Another said: ‘William got not only the brains gene but also all the handsome genes.’

And for many, the waterproofs only added to the Prince’s sex appeal, with one royal fan writing: ‘He wears strictly utilitarian clothing as protection when in the water, yet even then Prince William looks poised and handsome.’

According to award-winning personal stylist Lisa Talbot, the Prince of Wales’s tendency to adopt a more casual style when carrying out some engagements has helped him win back the hearts of many adoring fans – and as he oozes confidence in doing so, the father-of-three is all the more attractive.

‘You can tell that [William] is very comfortable and confident with the man that he has become,’ Lisa told FEMAIL.

‘His style is one of a natural personality where he uses a clothing style that many can relate to which endears us to him even more. 

‘The jeans, shirts, caps and waxed jackets help us to feel like he is ‘one of us’ – even his more formal look of tailoring draws us to him – helps us trust him and what he is telling us.’

William donned a buttoned-down blue shirt and a khaki jacket as he joined the team before wading through the river

William donned a buttoned-down blue shirt and a khaki jacket as he joined the team before wading through the river

William donned a buttoned-down blue shirt and a khaki jacket as he joined the team before wading through the river

The Prince of Wales spent a few years in the wilderness in the sex-symbol stakes - but according to royal fans, he's having a renaissance

The Prince of Wales spent a few years in the wilderness in the sex-symbol stakes - but according to royal fans, he's having a renaissance

The Prince of Wales spent a few years in the wilderness in the sex-symbol stakes – but according to royal fans, he’s having a renaissance

The Prince of Wales has attracted attention online from a new legion of fans in the US as he opted for an American-style baseball cap to join the Billion Oyster Project yesterday afternoon

The Prince of Wales has attracted attention online from a new legion of fans in the US as he opted for an American-style baseball cap to join the Billion Oyster Project yesterday afternoon

The Prince of Wales has attracted attention online from a new legion of fans in the US as he opted for an American-style baseball cap to join the Billion Oyster Project yesterday afternoon

Despite losing his hair in his 20s and 30s, a burden many men face as they age, Lisa argues the Prince of Wales has only embraced his changing appearance which makes him more attractive.

She said: ‘He started showing signs of hair loss at the age of 20 which has progressed to more thinning of the hair on the crown of his head, but you can see that he is very at ease with his hair and I don’t think the general public look at his hair.

‘They see a handsome man with a warm heart and a big smile which is certainly his greatest asset.’

Celebrity hairstylist Gustav Fouche added that the Prince of Wales’s decision to embrace hair loss has increased his attractiveness – and he has ensured the way in which he styles his locks fully embraces the look.

‘When someone is starting to lose their hair, a good hair cut is the most important aspect of the hair, as it can make the hair look fuller, or if cut badly, thinner,’ he explained.

‘Most men are genetically designed to lose the hair on top of the head, which is evident with the horse shoe shape as seen by Prince William. 

‘Often hairdressers leave the sides to full and thick, which will make the top look even thinner. Therefore, what you have to do is take weight out of the sides to make the top look fuller.’

He added: ‘The reason Prince William looks so handsome is he has embraced the look. There is nothing more sexy than a man taking control and being comfortable with it, and owning it. 

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White agreed that William’s new-found confidence as he matures into his role as Prince of Wales and becomes heir apparent is likely one of the reasons for his ‘glow up’.

She said: ‘I feel that William has come back into his own over the past few years. This could be because he has found his feet within his role within the family. The term glow up comes to mind.’

Rochelle added the father-of-three has ‘taken the time to invest in himself’ in recent years – and even reckons his wife has influenced him in the style stakes.

‘I feel that he has been inspired by Kate when it comes to his style and decided to take his selfcare seriously,’ she said.

‘His skin is glowing due to being happy and content and it’s showing… Some men get better with age and I feel that many think that he is.’

As for William’s buff physique, Charles Mills, CEO of Gelida, suggested the Prince of Wales has a ‘strict gym routine’.

‘Its highly likely he has a personal trainer,’ Charles said. ‘He may have also considered/had various treatments such as muscle stimulation technology or even cryolipolysis.’

The Prince of Wales was known as a heartthrob in his younger years, with many swooning over his handsome looks

The Prince of Wales was known as a heartthrob in his younger years, with many swooning over his handsome looks

The Prince of Wales was known as a heartthrob in his younger years, with many swooning over his handsome looks 

However there was a period while the Prince was in his early 30s when it appeared his status as a global heartthrob was at risk

However there was a period while the Prince was in his early 30s when it appeared his status as a global heartthrob was at risk

However there was a period while the Prince was in his early 30s when it appeared his status as a global heartthrob was at risk 

Prince William, pictured in 2013, lost his hair while in his early thirties, but continued to show off his thinning locks for a number of years before shaving his head

Prince William, pictured in 2013, lost his hair while in his early thirties, but continued to show off his thinning locks for a number of years before shaving his head

Prince William, pictured in 2013, lost his hair while in his early thirties, but continued to show off his thinning locks for a number of years before shaving his head  

Royal fans were left swooning over Prince William's 'guns' as he shared a photo of himself receiving his first Covid-19 vaccination

Royal fans were left swooning over Prince William's 'guns' as he shared a photo of himself receiving his first Covid-19 vaccination

Royal fans were left swooning over Prince William’s ‘guns’ as he shared a photo of himself receiving his first Covid-19 vaccination

‘By making the sides much shorter he has taken the attention away from his hair and is now allowing us to look at his handsome face.

‘Fundamentally, Prince William has stopped trying to hide the unmistakable fact that he is balding, and is now owning it and he looks great for doing so. I encourage most men to do this, rather than try to shield it.’

The striking reaction to the Prince’s Darcy-esque look is not the first time William has set pulses racing in recent months, after fans swooned over the father-of-three during the King’s Coronation Concert earlier this year.

As William took to the stage set up on the grounds of Windsor Castle, where he paid tribute to his ‘Pa’, King Charles, people took to Twitter to label him a ‘DILF’ as they swooned over his looks.

One person commented: ‘If this isn’t HOT, I don’t know what is?’

Another wrote: ‘William is hot as f***. I will not be taking any further questions.’

A third added: ‘William is so hot, I’m sorry!’

A fourth wrote: ‘William is really a DILF!’

In 2021, royal fans were amazed by Prince William‘s ‘guns’ as he shared a photo of himself receiving his first Covid-19 vaccination. He was photographed being injected by NHS staff at London’s Science Museum, where Health Secretary Matt Hancock was also inoculated. 

The image, showing a masked William and two healthcare workers, was shared to the @KensingtonRoyal Twitter and Instagram accounts this morning.

It was captioned: ‘On Tuesday I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. To all those working on the vaccine rollout – thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do.’

As William rolled up his sleeves to have the jab, many people took to social media to praise the father-of-three for setting a good example.

But several couldn’t resist admiring his bulging biceps, with one tweeting: ‘Check out those guns!’

Another remarked: ‘Duke working out! Nice!’ while one commented: ‘Ha ha, I was just thinking he’s looking pretty fit.’

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