Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is a blonde.
When a paparazzi picture of Middleton shot through a car window went viral, royalists were desperate to know if the Princess had embraced a new, blonder look. Granted, there was the glimmer of sunlight reflecting against the tinted car window, but a closer look did suggest her glossy, chestnut hue was erring more on the side of honey blonde - the soft waves falling by her shoulders were decidedly brighter in tone.
Naturally, the masses have been waiting in anticipation for a closer look at her 'do. And today it was confirmed: the Princess has embraced a new, honey blonde.
Revealed: Kate Middelton's New Blonde Hair
Photographed today at the Natural History Museum in London, Middleton's hair was a lesson in natural, sun-kissed strands.
'It's not full-on highlights, but more of a lifted glow, like natural sunlight,' explains Jason Collier, Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde. 'It catches in the light and adds dimension, without screaming "I’ve had my hair done."'
If you're a brunette wanting a sunkissed feel without a major colour overhaul, this could be a low maintenance look to consider.
'It's the perfect foray into blonde, especially perfect for those nervous about going lighter or anyone trying to grow out old colour in a softer, more blended way,' says Russell.
How to ask for the look?
'Kate’s colour looks to have been created using a combination of hand-painted balayage and perhaps babylights, likely finished with a subtle root melt to ensure the highlights blend seamlessly into her base,' says Marley Xavier, Colourist at Hershesons Belgravia. 'A gloss would have been applied to refine and perfect the overall tone, resulting in this biscuity, burnished sandy brunette, a shade that feels soft, dimensional and incredibly flattering.'
Rumours have also been swirling that Middleton's latest look may be down to "grey-blending" a technique where blonde highlights are added to minimise the stark contrast of any grey hairs. Xavier, however, feels this is unlikely.
'It’s no secret that going lighter can help with grey regrowth, but I don’t believe that’s what’s happening here. With grey blending, you’d usually expect to see more lightness placed right at the root to camouflage any silvers. Kate’s colour feels more about enhancing depth and radiance rather than disguising greys.'
This isn't the first time Middleton has debuted a departure from her usual 'do. During a visit to the Natural History Museum on the 9th October 2019, she displayed a noticeably lighter shade of caramel that hairdressers described as a 'bronde' - a shade that sits somewhere in the middle between blonde and brunette. Then, a year later in October 2020, she was photographed at the University of Derby with a fresh new cut and lighter, honey tones.
Perhaps her most dramatic look to date came in September 2023, when the Princess stepped out as patron of The Forward Trust at HMP High Down, sporting brand new curtain bangs.
Rachael Martin is Grazia’s Beauty Director. Originally from Northern Ireland, she studied English Literature at Queen’s University Belfast, before moving to London to pursue a career in magazine journalism. After interning at Stylist and Harper’s Bazaar she dipped her toes into the world of beauty writing and never looked back.