Kate Middleton's Natural Hair Stole The Show On 2012 Diamond Jubilee Tour
You may not know this, but Kate Middleton's natural hair is surprisingly different than her normal style. While the Princess of Wales usually wears her hair sleek and straight or in a loose, '90s-style blowout, her natural texture is actually quite curly — go figure! She's rarely seen in public with her natural style, but back in 2012, her bouncy curls made a special appearance during Queen Elizabeth II's 2012 Diamond Jubilee tour.
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The above photo was taken on a visit to Tavanipupu, in the Solomon Islands, where Kate was seen rocking gorgeous curls. Even though she doesn't often wear her hair natural, she's shown in the past that she isn't afraid to switch things up. The weather in the area may have called for a simpler style (she can thank humidity for that), and we love that she wasn't afraid to go au naturel. There have also been plenty of times Kate Middleton's natural hair color got a chic upgrade — further proof she's open to a good hair transformation.
Kate Middleton's signature glossy hair and changing color probably take a lot to maintain
As we mentioned previously, it's rare to catch Kate out and about rocking her more tousled, curly texture, and it's clear that she puts work into keeping her hair healthy. Maintaining such curly, but not frizzy, tresses requires a particular strategy. "She likely receives regular glossing treatments," celebrity hairstylist Jason Collier told Town & Country. "She may also opt for deep conditioning or keratin-infused treatments to smooth the cuticle and combat frizz while maintaining bounce." Kate often frequents Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa in London, where she gets her hair colored, glossed, conditioned, and trimmed — and it makes you wonder how much upkeep her ever-shifting style and color require.
Kate Middleton's hair color transformation was one of 2025's hottest trends, and her stunning honey-blond shade sparked salon inspiration across the globe — something she's no stranger to. Overall, Kate seems to take a seasonal approach to her hair, but brightening her locks for summer and darkening them for winter takes a lot of work, according to celebrity hairstylist Jay Birmingham. "[She's usually] incorporating highlights and balayage into her hair for the warmer months and going slightly deeper and darker with her hair for the colder months," Birmingham told Town & Country. "It looks as though the lighter color placement has been created using a freehand color technique such as balayage, which does not require as regular upkeep as highlights and only needs [to be] touched up every few months." It takes a lot of effort to look as effortless as Kate Middleton, so a look at her hair in its natural curly style, now and then, feels extra special.