Prince Harry's facial hair sends Twitter ablaze during Battle of Britain flypast

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Prince Harry has returned to the UK to start life as a full-time royal
Showed off a ginger beard as he celebrated 31st birthday
Social media erupted with support for his new facial fuzz
First engagement was a Battle of Britain flypast in Sussex
He will also carry out a series of engagements for the RFU
Will join the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Twickenham on Friday

By Rebecca English for MailOnline and Bianca London for MailOnline

Published: 05:18 EST, 15 September 2015 | Updated: 09:24 EST, 15 September 2015

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He’s spent the summer working on conservation projects in Africa but Prince Harry is now back in the UK - and he's bought a special souvenir with him.

The prince, who celebrates his 31st birthday today, debuted a rugged ginger beard as he took part in a RAF flypast at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex and his facial fuzz was a hit with his fans who hailed it 'sexy'.

Looking tanned after a summer spent working on conservation projects in Africa – and still sporting the beard he grew whilst he was away – the fifth in line to the throne arrived at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex for a flypast to mark the 75th anniversary of victory in the Battle of Britain.

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Prince Harry showed off a rugged new look with a beard at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex, where he celebrated his 31st birthday on Tuesday

His fans took to social media to show their support for his new beard, with one user, @NevahChange, tweeting: 'The bday boy looking hotter than ever [sic].' Anther user, James Barley, added: 'Prince Harry with a ginger beard, HELLO!'.

Hanna Torkington tweeted her delight at the Prince's beard, writing: 'Yes Harry with the beard', whilst Miss Ahmed added: 'Isn't Prince Harry a sexy thing with his ginger beard? Yum Yum!'

Dressed in his regulation green khaki overalls, the prince attended an in-depth briefing before touring the flight line to see the aircraft and meet their owners and pilots.

Unfortunately for Harry, the wind and rain that had been battering the south east picked up shortly before his hour-long flight, in a PV202 flown by John Romaine of The Aircraft Restoration Company.

Prince Harry gave up his chance to fly in an original Spitfire in today's Battle of Britain fly past after his plane broke down.

Four of the fighter planes were due to take off from Goodwood Aerodrome in Sussex but one was left 'unserviceable' at Biggin Hill. The royal chose to give up his place to the last serving RAF 'ace' Tom Neil and two former soldiers trained to take part in the event by his Royal Foundation's Endeavour Fund.

Looking tanned after a summer spent working on conservation projects in Africa, Prince Harry was still sporting the beard he grew whilst he was away

Donning a khaki flight suit, the bearded Prince blended in with his fellow pilots

Prince Harry walks on the airfield at Goodwood Aerodrome as he is shown a Spitfire Aircraft that will take place in a Battle of Britain Flypast at Goodwood

Harry has spent the summer working on conservation projects in Africa but is now back in the UK - and he's bought a special souvenir with him in the form of a beard

It seems that the Prince's new look was a success; his fans took to social media to show their support for his new beard, with one user, @NevahChange, tweeting: 'The bday boy looking hotter than ever [sic].' Anther user, James Barley, added: 'Prince Harry with a ginger beard, HELLO!'

A Twitter account paying tribute to the royal's facial fuzz was even set up

Hanna Torkington tweeted her delight at the Prince's beard, writing: 'Yes Harry with the beard', whilst Miss Ahmed added: 'Isn't Prince Harry a sexy thing with his ginger beard? Yum Yum!'

Prince Harry walks on the airfield at Goodwood Aerodrome as he is shown Spitfire Aircraft that will take place in a Battle of Britain Flypast

Prince Harry chats to fellow pilots at The Battle of Britain Flypast

Donning a khaki flight suit, the Prince blended in with his fellow pilots as he joined other members of the aircrew at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex

The Battle of Britain Flypast is bringing together more aircraft from the era in one place than at any time since World War Two as a show of thanks to those whose sacrifice helped to secure the nation’s freedom during the bloody summer and autumn of 1940.

Organised by the Boultbee Flight Academy, an estimated 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims from across the UK, USA and Europe will fly over the South of England, landing at WW2 airfields including Biggin Hill, Duxford, Northweald and Northolt – or, in Harry’s case, return to Goodwood.

The bravest passenger surely has to be 95-year-old Wing Commander Tom Neil, a Battle of Britain Hurricane and Spitfire pilot who will once again take to the skies, leading the formation from the rear seat of a Spitfire.

He is the last surviving RAF ace (those boasting more than five enemy kills) with a staggering 140 missions, 14 downed enemy planes, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Force Cross to his name.

A teenage trainee bank clerk when war broke out, he only once baled out during the course of battle after being pranged by one of his own planes over Kent.

It was a remarkable achievement given that more than 500 of his comrades perished in action as the supposedly invincible German Luftwaffe attempted to knock out Britain’s air defences in advance of a land invasion.

Despite quitting the military after ten years and two tours of duty in Afghanistan back in June, Prince Harry, seen laughing and joking with his pals, has vowed to devote the rest of his life fighting for the rights of former servicemen and women

It looks set to be a busy few months for the fun-loving Prince, who will be getting involved with activity surrounding the Rugby World Cup

Prince Harry appears in good spirits as he joins other aircrew at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex during his 31st birthday

Prince Harry looked just like one of the lads at The Battle of Britain Flypast at Goodwood Aerodrome

Prince Harry is celebrating his 31st birthday today with a spin in an historic Spitfire Bomber in tribute to the bravery of 'The Few'

Prince Harry (second right) attended the event, which brings more Battle of Britain aircraft together in one place than at any time since World War Two, with an estimated 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims from across the UK, USA and Europe taking part in the flypast over the South of England, across WW2 airfields

Prince Harry will return to Goodwood Aerodrome to join Battle of Britain veterans and wounded servicemen supported by his Endeavour Fund in a historic flypast

Organised by the Boultbee Flight Academy, an estimated 40 Spitfires, Hurricanes and Blenheims from across the UK, USA and Europe will fly over the South of England

Unfortunately for Harry, the wind and rain that had been battering the south east picked up shortly before his hour-long flight

The RAF’s contribution to the nation’s war effort led Churchill to famously remark: ‘Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.’

As well as Wing Commander Neil, Prince Harry will also meet Corporal Alan Robinson and Nathan Foster, two wounded servicemen backed by the Spitfire Scholarship set up by the Boultbee Flight Academy in partnership with his Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund.

The Fund which offers funding for sporting and adventure challenges to wounded injured and sick servicemen and women and was launched the prince launched at Goodwood in 2014.

The Spitfire Scholarship draws inspiration from the legendary pilot Douglas Bader who flew throughout WW2 with 20 individual aerial victories despite losing both his legs in 1931.

The royal, who is back on home turf, chatted animatedly to his co-workers

Jet-lagged? Prince Harry looked a little sleepy as he stood in the rainy field

The fun-loving Prince was seen laughing and joking with his co-workers

Prince Harry, seen without his beard in May this year, was undertaking his royal duties for a flypast at Goodwood Aerodrome in Sussex

For the past three months, the prince has been working on conservation projects in Africa. The royal is pictured here checking a male lion's breathing after it was tranquillised to be fitted with a tracker

Nathan, from South Shields, Tyne on Wear, suffered severe damage to his left leg in a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment in 2011, while RAF engineer Alan had his right leg amputated above the knee after a motorbike accident.

The pair have followed a similar flight training programme as WW2 pilots, progressing from a Tiger Moth to a Harvard and finally to the Spitfire itself, culminating in joining the flypast.

Last year former Apache helicopter co-pilot Harry met pilots who were training for the event before himself flying in a two-seater Spitfire, even getting the chance to take the controls himself. It is likely that he will do the same again today The event is being featured in a two-part documentary on Channel 4.

Despite quitting the military after ten years and two tours of duty in Afghanistan back in June, Prince Harry has vowed to devote the rest of his life fighting for the rights of former servicemen and women.

He plans to work as a volunteer with the Personnel Recovery Unit of London District, where he will assist soldiers with their rehabilitation after being wounded or injured in service and continues to be closely involved in the Invictus Games, the hugely successful Paralympic-style event for injured service personnel he founded, which will be held in Orlando next year.

The prince has three official foreign tours planned before Christmas: a brief trip to Washington for meetings connected with Invictus and then a trip to Lesotho in southern Africa on behalf of his charity, Sentebale, followed by an official tour of South Africa on behalf of the British Government at He will also continue to juggle a programme of royal duties, including several engagement associated with the Rugby World Cup in his role as Honorary President.

Prince Harry with Jonny Wilkinson at the Rugby World Cup 100 Days to Go Launch in June. The royal will be at the opening ceremony on Friday

Harry will be reunited with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, the trio are all fans of sporting events - pictured here at the Tour De France in June last year