British army allows beards ending a 100-year ban

 British soldiers will be allowed to grow beards after the Army overturned a 100-year ban on facial hair, The Telegraph reports.

The King, who is Commander in Chief, signed off on the decision on March 29 to allow both officers and soldiers to wear beards. 

The new policy will come into effect on Friday so that soldiers on Easter leave have time to grow a beard while away from work, The Telegraph understands.

It comes after Grant Shapps, the British Defence Secretary, said the beard ban was “ludicrous” when discussing the Army’s recruitment crisis, the report adds.

The move will bring the Army into line with the RAF and Royal Navy who already permit full beards.

However, troops have been told that conditions mean beards have to be “neat” as standards within the Army must not drop.