Just a few weeks after Prince William set pulses racing among Royal fans with his rugged new bearded look, the future king has unveiled his new equerry who seems to be mirroring his style.

Sqn Ldr Mike Reynolds was announced as the latest member of the Prince of Wales’ staff on Wednesday, taking over from Cmdr Rob Dixon who is returning to the Royal Navy after a four-year stint in the role.

Much like his Royal superior, Sqn Ldr Reynolds, who is currently on secondment from the RAF, is an experienced helicopter pilot and also sports a striking beard, although it’s noticeably darker and thicker than that of his employer.

The 42 year old prince first showcased his facial hair back in August, much to the delight of many Royal followers, when he appeared notably stubbled in a video praising Team GB’s performance at the Paris Olympics. After a brief period of clean-shavenness following the clip, he once again sported a beard last week while in uniform at RAF Cranwell.

Mike, pictured on the right at a charity event, has been appointed as Prince William‘s Royal equerry, according to The Sun  This role is essentially a personal assistant to a Royal family member, assisting with official duties and everyday tasks, reports the Mirror.

Duties can range from greeting guests at the palace entrance to managing private affairs and working behind the scenes to ensure smooth operations in all aspects of a royal’s life.

The responsibilities are quite different from those of an RAF pilot, but the role demands a significant commitment and versatility to manage a busy schedule. While the exact salary for this position remains undisclosed, it is known that last year the Ministry of Defence spent over £500,000 on the salaries of all the Royal family’s equerries.

This new appointment follows Prince William‘s recent revelation that he would “love to fly again”. He had previously stepped back from his roles as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot and an East Anglia Air Ambulance pilot to concentrate fully on his Royal duties.

Moreover, it seems that Prince George, the eldest son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, has also developed a passion for aviation. The young prince reportedly had his first flying lesson this summer, not far from his Windsor home.