Look, the royal family has certain expectations — just ask Meghan Markle. So, someone like Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, doesn’t have the same freedom when it comes to her hair cut, color, and style as certain celebs, who can dye their hair quarantine-blue one day, then debut a brand-new blonde a week later. Kate Middleton’s hair lives by a strict code — and yet, the Duchess’ brunette mane has become a source of admiration for many fans. Over her years as a royal, Kate’s signature waves, intricate updos, and subtle highlights have been the subject of hair envy Pinterest boards everywhere — and who else remembers the shock waves when she dipped her toe in the blonde pool? Kate Middleton’s hair over the years always stuns, whether it’s a sporty ponytail or glossy curls. And we’re taking you on her hair journey right now.
Kate most recently made headlines with her head of hair on an appearance on BBC Breakfast, where she showed off dirty blonde or “bronde” highlights just in time for summer. While this isn’t the first time the Duchess has lightened her hair for the season, this year’s style is an especially light golden hue, accented by a center part and freshly layered hair for a bright and bouncy look.
Summer highlights aren’t Kate’s only beauty secret. Looking back at her hair styles as a royal, we noticed a few tricks the Duchess has used more than once — and clearly, the royal knows her way around a curling iron.
Here’s a look back at how Kate Middleton’s hair has evolved over the years.
A version of this article was originally published July 2020.
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Effortlessly Wavy (2024)
Image Credit: Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images In her first appearance since the end of her cancer treatment, Middleton rocked these soft brushed-out waves to the Southport Community Centre on October 10, 2024.
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Courtside Chic (2024)
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images Kate made another rare appearance at Wimbledon in July where she was treated to a standing ovation upon arriving to the stadium. Her hair was worn down and straight with her singnature side part.
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Back & Braided (2024)
Image Credit: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images For Kate’s grand return to the public eye at the 2024 Trooping the Colour, she opted for her iconic braided bun look.
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Layered Curls (2023)
Image Credit: Peter Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images Kate amped up the curly ‘do during her visit to meet with frontline staff from Streets of Growth. And truly, we’re obsessed with this layered curl!
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Embrace the Curls (2023)
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage Kate looked incredible as she embraced curlier locks during her September 2023 visit to HMP Prison High Down.
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Blowout Curls (2023)
Image Credit: Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images Kate looked radiant at the Rugby World Cup France 2023 event, rocking a gorgeous wavy blowout!
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Straight Locks for Southampton (2023)
Image Credit: Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty Images Instead of her usual light waves, Kate straightened up her hair a bit more than usual for her visit to Southampton in June 2023.
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As Curly As Can Be (2023)
Image Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images For the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery in June 2023, everyone got hair envy when they saw Kate Middleton’s gorgeous curled hair.
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Extra Curly (2023)
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage To top off her headline-making Barbiecore suit look on May 2023, Kate opted for an extra curly hairdo we’re still itching to recreate for ourselves!
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Soft Curled Are Back (2023)
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage Kate brought back her iconic soft, slightly highlighted curls during her visit to the Anna Freud charity in May 2023.
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Tiara-Topped (2023)
Image Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Kate Middleton’s sleek updo for King Charles III’s coronation made her look exceptionally regal, and boy does that tiara look perfect on her deep brown locks.
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Soft Blowout (2023)
Image Credit: Jeremy Selwyn - WPA Pool/Getty Images For her surprise visit to the Baby Bank in April 2023, Kate wowed in her go-to blowout hairstyle, making her hair look so voluminous and soft.
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Honey Highlights (2023)
Image Credit: Bruce Adams-WPA Pool/Getty Images While visiting the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, she decided to rock her classic honey-highlighted waves!
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Windswept Curls (2023)
Image Credit: Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty Images She may have switched things up with a power suit for her visit at the inaugural meeting of new Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, but Kate still wowed everyone with her iconic curly blow-out.
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Wispy Locks (2023)
Image Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage For the 2023 Easter Mattins Service, Kate wowed in every aspect of her look, including her hair. For the occasion, she not only straightened it but parted and separated it as such to show her ears and give her a wispy vibe.
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Straight Ombre (2023)
Image Credit: Phil Noble - WPA Pool/Getty Images For her visit to the Riversley Park Children’s Centre in June 2023, Kate kept her usual curls to a minimum and opted for a straighter hairdo with light ombre at the ends!
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Smoother Than Ever (2022)
Image Credit: Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images As Kate Middleton attended the King’s Diplomatic Reception on December 2022, she paired the Lotus Flower Tiara with smooth, slicked-back hair and steered clear of her signature loose waves. The perfect way to let the dress and tiara speak for themselves!
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Sleek & Straight (2022)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images At the Royal Film Performance of Top Gun: Maverick in May 2022, Duchess Catherine had not a hair out of place for this sleek, flat-ironed look — just in case she needed to strap on a helmet, perhaps?
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Braided Bun (2022)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images On March 2023, Kate wowed in a gorgeous vibrant coat and to top it off, she stepped out in a gorgeous braided bun that may have been the most intricate hair we’ve ever seen.
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Red & Brown (2020)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Kate Middleton’s brown hair once had red-like highlights when the lights hit it, and she looked amazing with this tone.
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Wales Blowout (2019)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Kate’s blowout with a slight curl at the end is always a showstopper.
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Red-Hued Hair (2018)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Truly, we miss Kate’s almost-red-haired moment.
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Mid-Length Middleton (2018)
Image Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images While we’re used to Kate’s long hair, she once chopped a lot of it off for this mid-length look we still adore.
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Intricate Braid (2018)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images We always love an intricate braid moment from Kate.
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Half Updo Heaven (2017)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Both up and down? We always love a good updo, and this one Kate donned was perfect: it got the hair out of her face and an array of curls at the bottom.
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Big & Bouncy (2017)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images While we adore all of Kate’s looks, we have a soft spot for her big, bouncy curls she donned throughout the late 2010s.
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Dark Hair Princess (2017)
Image Credit: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage Back in 2017, Kate wowed in super-dark hair, probably the darkest it’s ever been, and it looked stunning on her.
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Messy Curls (2016)
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage At the 2016 Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Kate absolutely rocked the messy curls look, and somehow, her sunglasses being pushed up made it look even more fabulous.
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Highlighted Curls (2015)
Image Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage When Kate visited XLP at Christ Church, Gipsy Hill on March 2015, no one could take their eyes off of her curled hair.
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Long Ponytail (2014)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Back in 2014, Kate wasn’t afraid to wear a bold, voluminous ponytail.
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Borderline Blonde (2013)
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images This is undeniable the lightest Kate’s hair has ever been.
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Beach Curls (2012)
Image Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage One look we definitely don’t see from Kate anymore, but wish we could, was her beach curl phase!
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