Princess Kate made headlines in early September when she debuted her most dramatic hair transformation to date, stepping out with honey blonde locks before quickly returning to her signature brunette style within days.
The Princess of Wales first unveiled her new blonde look during a visit to the Natural History Museum in London on September 4, alongside Prince William. The 43-year-old royal, known for her chestnut brown hair throughout her time in the royal family, appeared with dramatically lighter tresses that cascaded past her shoulders in soft curls.
The transformation had been hinted at weeks earlier when Kate was photographed on August 24 attending church services at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was seen in the passenger seat of an SUV driven by Prince William, with their three children in the backseat, sporting what appeared to be blonder waves.
Hair stylists described Kate’s new shade as a golden beige blonde that represented a significant departure from her typical look. Jacob Schwartz, a hair color trend ambassador, noted the color maintained understated refinement while adding gentle dimension that felt natural and balanced with her skin tone.
However, the blonde era proved short-lived. By September 6, Kate had already reverted to darker tones when she attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup match between England and Australia at the American Express Stadium in East Sussex, England. She wore her hair pulled back in a half-updo, though the styling made it difficult to definitively assess the color change.
The return to brunette was confirmed on September 8 when Kate made a surprise appearance with Prince William at The National Federation of Women’s Institute in Sunningdale. The event commemorated the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death, and Kate wore her hair down in loose curls, clearly displaying her return to brown locks with highlights.
The hair transformation sparked considerable online discussion, prompting Sam McKnight, who served as Princess Diana’s personal stylist until her 1997 death, to defend Kate against critics. McKnight stated that he was shocked and dismayed by negative comments about the Princess of Wales’ new look.
British psychologist Carolyn Mair suggested the hair change might represent more than a simple style choice. She indicated that Kate may have wanted to feel brighter and more energetic, noting that hair serves as a symbol of health and femininity. Mair theorized that if Kate experienced hair loss during her cancer treatment, coloring it blonde could represent a means of drawing attention to it and reclaiming agency.
The timing of Kate’s hair experimentation coincided with her gradual return to public duties following her cancer diagnosis announcement in March 2024. She had completed chemotherapy treatment and announced in January 2025 that her cancer was in remission, describing the nine-month ordeal as incredibly tough for her family.
During a hospital visit in Essex on July 2, Kate had opened up about the mental challenges following cancer treatment. She described how patients often struggle to function normally at home after clinical care ends, emphasizing that finding a new normal takes time and represents a roller coaster experience rather than a smooth transition.
Fashion experts noted that Kate’s brief blonde phase aligned with current hair trends favoring warmer, more natural-looking colors over high-contrast platinum shades. The golden glow trend has gained popularity for adding shine while remaining flattering across different skin tones.
Throughout her appearances during this period, Kate maintained her characteristic style choices, including wearing a necklace featuring the initials of her three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. For the Natural History Museum visit, she paired her new blonde look with a muted green tweed Ralph Lauren blazer and tan suede Pretty Ballerinas loafers.
The brief transformation represented Kate’s most significant hair change since joining the royal family in 2011, when she married Prince William. Her return to brunette suggests the blonde experiment was temporary, though it successfully generated widespread media attention and public discussion about her evolving style choices as she continues her recovery and return to royal duties.