The Princess of Wales’s beautiful brunette hair has become as synonymous with her royal image as her impeccable wardrobe.
The “Kate effect” has been influencing women’s haircuts for decades, and even when the Queen stepped out with a new face-framing curtain bangs in September last year, there were no signs of abating.
As a senior member of the royal family and future queen, the princess has hardly undergone any “hair transformations” over the years, staying true to her signature chocolate brown hairstyle and changing it only slightly during the 13 years of her marriage to Prince William.
© GettyHowever, rare photos from Kate’s childhood show that the Queen once had bright blonde hair…
Before her fairytale royal wedding to the Prince of Wales in 2011, Kate’s father Michael Middleton released a series of photos of his daughter from her childhood.
© Shutterstock / The Middleton familyIn a snapshot of the four-year-old princess with her father Michael and sister Pippa in Jerash, Jordan, both Kate and her younger sister have golden blonde hair.
The Queen’s windswept blonde locks were probably due to her age, but could also have been caused by the natural bleaching of the sun in Jordan, where she spent her early years as a child.
© GettyThe Princess of Wales’ hair secrets
There are few royals with hair as enchanting as the Princess of Wales. Ever since she burst onto the scene as Prince William’s college sweetheart, Kate’s glossy brunette locks have been the envy of royal fans who have tried to figure out exactly how the Queen achieves her signature healthy curls.
© Max Mumby/IndigoFrom speculation that she wears hair extensions to suggestions that her hair-thickening highlights add depth and dimension to her Rapunzel-like mane, experts have offered various insights into the Princess of Wales’ hair secrets.
Olia Cutz, hair extension specialist and founder of The Extensionist, previously said HELLO! that the Queen’s flowing waves could be due to a barely noticeable type of hair extension.
© Getty“If she has extensions, she might have individual strands with keratin bonds, because they can be perfectly hidden and no one will see them, even if you wear your hair up,” explained Olia.
“Kate could have easily worn tapes or ultrabonds, which are incredibly small hair extensions. They can add volume and length to any hair type, but are so discreet that you hardly notice them.”
After her last performance, Michael Gray, award-winning hairstylist for John Frieda, spoke with HELLO! about the princess’s subtle blonde highlights.
© Getty“The princess has incorporated some subtle highlights in the form of a balayage hairstyle to give the impression that her hair is lighter and brighter for the summer,” he explained.
“Depth is maintained in places, along the crown and below around her neckline, where you can see the highlights subtly popping out. I like the placement and that the hair isn’t lifted too high so it doesn’t look bold or noticeable. Her hair is beautifully toned and complements her base color and skin tone with a soft caramel tone.”
