Kate Middleton has brightened up her royal look — literally.
The Princess of Wales, 43, debuted noticeably blonder locks this week while stepping out with Prince William at the Natural History Museum for their first joint event since the summer holidays.
The couple was taking a tour of the newly transformed gardens and met with children taking part in learning programs.
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While Kate’s chic wardrobe usually steals headlines, this time it was her hair that had everyone talking. Gone is the chestnut brunette shade she’s long favoured; in its place, a sun-kissed honey blonde.
Royal watchers had already suspected a colour makeover when cameras spotted Kate in Scotland in late August, with her strands catching the light in a softer, golden tone.
Thursday’s outing confirmed the rumours. The Princess is firmly in her “blonde era”.
Kate wore her hair out long, styled in her trademark wavy blowout.
While online conversation buzzed about the Princess’s hair transformation, the royal couple made sure to get back to business, sharing a message on their joint social media account about outdoor learning and wellbeing activities.
“Even with the rain, it was great seeing how the gardens and National Education Nature Park programme are helping young people to connect to nature, combining outdoor learning with wellbeing activities,” the couple said.“And a pleasure hearing from students of Kendar Primary in Lewisham and Co-op Academy Manchester about projects to support nature and biodiversity.”
The post included a photo of the Princess getting caught in the rain with schoolchildren.
Royal fans quickly filled the comments section with their hot takes on Kate’s new blonde look.
“Her hair is so beautiful!!!,” one user wrote on Instagram.
Another said, “You look amazing Catherine, the new hair suits you.”
While some loved the new do, others theorised that it might be a wig.
“Great pics but Catherine looks like she is wearing a wig. Either that or someone got trigger happy with Photoshop,” one person wrote.
“I pray she is well, that looks like a wig,” wrote another.
Kate began gradually resuming her royal duties in early 2025 following her cancer treatment. She made a notable return with a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in January, where she was treated, marking her first public engagement of the year after completing chemotherapy.
There, she revealed to patient Katherine Field, who was undergoing cancer treatment, that she chose not to wear a cold cap during her own chemotherapy journey.
Cold capping works by reducing scalp temperatures to decrease blood flow to hair follicles. While it doesn’t guarantee the prevention of all hair loss, it can significantly reduce the amount of hair lost.
“She just said that she didn’t have to have it. For her to lose her hair, which is so iconic, would have been awful. Everyone loves her hair!,” Ms Field told People.
Kate’s full return to public duties was planned to be slow and measured, with an official announcement from the Palace stating that she would not resume full-time duties until after Easter 2025.
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