Princess Kate Middleton just stepped out with a fresh new look, officially showing off her lighter, honey-blonde hair. After giving us sneak peeks all summer, Kate, who is 43 years old, made a grand debut with her updated style on Thursday, September 4th. She and her husband, Prince William, also 43, were visiting the newly redone gardens at the Natural History Museum in London.
The Princess of Wales looked bright with her hair down, shining in its new shade for the couple’s first royal event after their summer break. Kate rocked an easy, chic style, sporting a grey blazer, a crisp white shirt, and black pants. Prince William matched her smart casual vibe, choosing a dark suit and a light blue shirt for the visit.
Throughout the summer months, royal watchers noticed Kate’s hair getting lighter. It was quite a change from her usual dark brown. Even back in July, during the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, her hair looked noticeably brighter. Then, on August 24th, her hair appeared even blonder. She was seen that day with William and their three children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 – attending a church service at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Hair expert Sarah Gadsdon shared her thoughts with the Daily Mail. She thinks Kate’s lighter hair might be partly due to time spent under the Greek sun this past summer. Gadsdon explained, "After a sunny vacation in Greece, Kate came back not just refreshed, but with naturally lightened hair." She added that "the mix of sea breeze, sun, and saltwater gently brightened her hair to a softer shade, setting up the perfect starting point for her next salon visit."
Gadsdon also believes the lighter shade could be a smart way for the princess to hide gray hairs as she gets older. "She has made a conscious switch in her hair coloring plan," Gadsdon noted. "Instead of covering grays with darker dyes, which need more upkeep, she’s chosen a lighter, blended tone. This method gives her hair a softer, more natural look. It also helps hide grays subtly and without too much work."
Another hair pro, Jennifer Korab, told Marie Claire that she’s really impressed with Kate’s hair change over the past few months. Korab said, "This mix of brown and blonde shades is one of the biggest trends right now. It gives soft depth, a warm glow, and natural brightness, which is perfect for the warmer months." Korab also thought the princess looked "neat, sophisticated, and effortlessly modern."