55 of Kate Middleton's Most Memorable Hair Moments
The Princess of Wales’s style has been a much-mined source of inspiration since her engagement to Prince William in 2010—and the ever-glossy hairstyles she wears to royal events, red carpets, and even just to spend time with her three children are no exception.
The exciting thing about Kate is that she likes to change it up (all within the realm of royal beauty protocol, that is). In the decade plus years she's been firmly in the spotlight, the Princess has given us many versions of new fringe, flawless blowouts, fascinator-adorned chignons, and even ponytails that are fit for a literal princess.
Take a trip gown down memory lane and look back at Kate Middleton’s best hair looks of all time.
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October 2023
On World Mental Health Day this past October, Kate attended a SportsAid mental fitness workshop at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. Here she went for a more casual look, opting for natural-looking waves in her long layered hair.
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September 2023
A simple classic, Kate gathered her hair in a low chignon and face-framing tendrils.
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May 2023
Looking as regal as ever, Kate wore her hair gathered away from her face and placed a grand leaf crown at the top of her head for the Coronation of King Charles III & Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey this past May.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images4/55November 2022
At the National Service of Remembrance in London, the new Princess of Wales pairs a sculptural hat with a curled low ponytail, creating a striking silhouette.
Jeff Spicer5/55April 2022
The Duchess of Cambridge wears her hair sleek and straight, pairing the style with a sculpted cheekbone.
Karwai Tang6/55March 2022
A sleek and swishy ponytail whilst visiting Kingston in Jamaica.
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March 2022
On a visit to the Sybil Strachan Primary School in the Bahamas, Kate wore her long hair with slight curls just at the ends.
Samir Hussein8/55March 2022
The Duchess paired tousled waves with a side parting while in Jamaica.
Samir Hussein9/55March 2022
For a dinner in Jamaica, Catherine paired a green Jenny Packham gown with an elegant chignon up-do.
Max Mumby/Indigo10/55December 2021
The Duchess of Cambridge shows off one of her famous flawless blowouts to host the community Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
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November 2021
At the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the princess channeled Old Hollywood glamour with a deep side-parting and bombshell curls.
Chris Jackson12/55September 2021
The Duchess of Cambridge gets sporty with a high ponytail to meet British US Open champion Emma Raducanu as they return to the LTA's National Tennis Centre for The Homecoming.
Max Mumby/Indigo13/55September 2021
Dialling up the glamour with a red-carpet updo at the No Time to Die premiere.
Chris Jackson14/55April 2021
The Duchess of Cambridge wears an elegant chignon underneath a stylish black fascinator at the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle.
Kensington Palace/ PA Media115/55July 2020
The Duchess sports a fresh, lighter hair color for the post-lockdown summer months.
Max Mumby/Indigo16/55March 2020
A shorter length for a trip to Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse.
Max Mumby/Indigo17/55March 2020
The Duchess wears a cushioned black Alice band to keep her hair off of her face during the royal tour of Ireland.
Max Mumby/Indigo18/55November 2019
An elaborate chignon complemented her navy fascinator at the Remembrance Sunday service.
Max Mumby/Indigo19/55November 2019
The Duchess went full glamour with a voluminous blow dry at the Royal Variety Performance.
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June 2019
A pastel blue wide-rimmed hat paired with an intricately twisted chignon makes for a memorable updo and one of our favorites from the pricess.
Max Mumby/Indigo21/55June 2019
For the gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week, she wore her hair loose, long and curled at the ends.
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March 2019
For a visit to Blackpool, the Duchess wore her hair in a sleek ponytail.
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October 2018
An elegant updo topped with a tiara for a state banquet in honor of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at Buckingham Palace.
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October 2018
Before Barbiecore, there was this pink hat moment. For Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018, Kate wore a bright Fuschia small hat with a matching veil and floral decal to go with her low chignon.
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July 2018
For Prince Louis christening, Kate wore her hair up and adorned with a wide white headband with floral decals. A grand and elegant look for a very special day.
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November 2017
For the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at The Cenotaph, the Duchess wore her hair curled into a faux bob.
Getty Images27/55July 2017
In Berlin, the Duchess wore her hair in center parted waves for the Queen's Birthday Party at the British Ambassadorial Residence.
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June 2017
On a visit to the new V&A Exhibition Road Quarter at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Kate wore a wavy half-up half-down do.
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May 2017
An elegant chignon topped with a Jane Taylor hat for the wedding of her sister, Pippa Middleton, to James Matthews.
Getty30/55February 2017
A voluminous updo for the BAFTAs red carpet.
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October 2016
Boarding a plane in Victoria at the end of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's family tour of Canada, Catherine chose a tonged half-up-half-down style for the journey.
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June 2016
An intricate side chignon for a garden party at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
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June 2016
At The Patron's Lunch, held to celebrate the Queen's patronage of more than 600 charities and organizations, the Duchess wore her hair in a half-up-half-down style.
Josh Olins34/55June 2016
She appeared on the cover of Vogue's centenary issue, wearing a hat from Beyond Retro.
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April 2016
In what we can only call Archery-chic, the princess wore her long and pined back while watching the sport on a trip to Thimphu, Bhutan.
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December 2015
Voluminous and full, the princess wore her medium-length cut feathered at the ends during a visit to the Action on Addiction Center.
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October 2015
An elegant updo accessorised with the lotus flower tiara for a state banquet held for Chinese president Xi Jinping at Buckingham Palace.
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March 2015
During a St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks, Kate wore a twisted chignon with a small hat placed at the crown of her head.
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April 2014
The Duchess wore her hair in a smarter, neat ponytail to visit Blenheim in New Zealand.
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December 2013
At the Royal film performance of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the Duchess opted for keeping her in a loose ponytail with face-framing tendrils left out in front.
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November 2013
A new, darker hue and layered cut - rumoured to have cost £600 at London salon Rossano Ferretti - for the SportsAid Ball in London.
Rex Features42/55November 2013
The Duchess of Cambridge wore her hair in ringlets, accessorised with a Lock & Co. hat, for the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London.
Getty43/55July 2013
The Duchess wore her hair in long, soft waves as she presented her newborn son—Prince George—to the world’s press. Her hairdresser had been pictured visiting the hospital where she gave birth in the hours before she faced the press.
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November 2012
During a visit to St. Andrews School on St. Andrew's Day, Kate went for a less done-up look while touring the grounds and watching the festivities. She wore her hair in loose waves and long side bangs just grazing over one eye.
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September 2012
For a friend's wedding the Duchess chose a half-up-half-down style accessorised with an asymmetrical hat .
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September 2012
Loose, natural curls with a flower garland for the Pacific Festival of the Arts on the Solomon Islands.
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September 2012
Kate is known for her classic twisted chignons, but we especially love this look that she wore to a tea party during the Diamond Jubilee of the Far East. She stuck pearl accents throughout for an elevated look.
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September 2012
The Duchess covered her hair with a white headscarf for a visit to the Assyakirin Mosque in Malaysia.
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May 2012
An elegant plaited updo for a concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
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July 2011
Of all of Kate's hair accessories, her hat collectsion may just be our favorite. Case in point: this grand beige number she wore to the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall in 2011. Wide-brimmed with matching floral decals make for a very chic statement.
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June 2011
A chic chignon and taupe headpiece for a day at the Epsom Derby.
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April 2011
For her wedding to Prince William in 2011, Kate wore loose waves cascading down her back. Her hair was adorned with a Cartier Halo tiara, loaned to her by Prince William’s grandmother, the Queen, and an ivory silk tulle veil that was reported to have four hand-embroidered motifs—the rose, the thistle, the daffodil, and the shamrock—to represent all the countries of the United Kingdom.
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November 2010
As she and Prince William announced their engagement to the world, Catherine wore her hair in her signature sleek, wavy style with face-framing layers and bold eyeliner.
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May 2006
She showed an early penchant for the hats and hair accessories that have become her signature, sporting tonged waves paired with a dramatic headpiece for the wedding of Laura Parker-Bowles and Harry Lopes.
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March 2002
For her famous charity catwalk turn at university, she wore her hair in ringlet curls with braid detailing.
