Rare Times We Got A Glimpse At Kate Middleton's Natural Hair

As one of the most public-facing members of the British royal family, Kate Middleton has a certain image to uphold. The Princess of Wales is seldom spotted looking anything but perfectly put together, which, for the royal family's standards it seems, must include carefully styled loose waves. After all, many of Kate Middleton's best hair moments are perfect inspiration for your next salon appointment; from mermaid waves to perfect blowouts, Kate's brunette locks are always coiffed flawlessly. That said, you might be surprised to learn that Kate Middleton's natural hair is quite different from her normal style; when un-styled, Kate's hair has a curly texture. 

Over the years, we've gotten to see Kate embracing her beautiful curls from time to time. In the early days of her marriage to Prince William, Kate was photographed in a more relaxed state while on trips out of the country — which sometimes included curls and waves. However, the Princess of Wales has made more recent efforts to highlight her hair's texture; she attended the 2026 BAFTAs with her hair styled in tighter curls that closely resembled her own natural curls. While it is rare that Kate shows off her curly hair, the royal is not afraid to rock her organic hair pattern in public. 

One of Kate Middleton's more relatable moments saw the royal's hair fall victim to humid weather. While visiting Honiara, Solomon Islands in honor of Queen Elizabeth's 2012 Diamond Jubilee, Kate was pictured allowing her curls to shine through on several occasions. Despite the hot and humid weather impacting her hair's appearance, Kate looked perfect for the island vibe. There are numerous ways to style waves that seem untamable according to your frizz type, and the Princess of Wales seems to have been keenly aware of how to look good in high humidity. 

This is the curliest we've seen Kate's hair look to date, which is what makes this occasion so special. The rare showcase of the royal icon's beachy curls has gone down as one of Kate's most iconic hair moments. While it is not as surprising of a change as her curtain bangs or short-lived foray into blond, Kate's messy waves humanized the new royal — showing off a more vulnerable side of one of the most influential members of the royal family. 

While a bouncy blowout is the key to looking princess-chic like Kate Middleton, the royal herself has proved that other styles can be just as regal. While attending the 2026 BAFTAs, Kate wore her hair in tight ringlets — which bore a striking resemblance to her natural hair. The Princess of Wales paired her new hairstyle with a more familiar outfit; Kate opted for a blush pink two-tone gown from Gucci, which she previously wore to an event in 2019. Kate Middleton is no stranger to repeating outfits like a sustainable fashion queen, but she smartly switched up the look with her voluminous curls. 

Unlike the other rare moments when Kate rocked her curls in a public setting, this event was formal; most of the time, when Kate was spotted with curly or wavy hair, it was at a casual daytime event. Kate's neatly styled ringlets for the BAFTAs perhaps show that the royal is becoming more comfortable with wearing her stunning natural hair for dressier occasions.  

Just a few months after Kate Middleton's marriage to Prince William in 2011, the newlyweds embarked on a nine-day royal tour of Canada. For one of their excursions, the couple participated in a boat race on Prince Edward Island's Dalvay Lake; during the race, fans got a glimpse of the Princess of Wales' curls. Kate wore her brown hair tied back in a sensible ponytail for the afternoon's events, revealing her natural texture. 

Kate can pull off both formal and casual looks perfectly, and her curls can be styled easily for any occasion. Unlike Kate's unintentional waves during her Solomon Islands visit, or her professionally curled ringlets on the BAFTAs red carpet, this event showed the royal wearing her hair in its natural state entirely on purpose. For a high-energy day on the water, Kate's laid-back ponytail was the perfect fit.