Royal Bobs That Make For Perfect Hair Salon Inspo

The bob is one of those haircuts that continues to stay relevant year after year. Hairstylists love it because it's sophisticated, flatters just about anyone, and can work for many different hair types. For this reason, we see so many British royals rocking this particular cut. While these pics of Kate Middleton's hair are perfect to bring to your next salon appointment, you may be looking for some shorter hair inspo, and there are plenty of other royals who went this route successfully. 

The most remembered iconic royal bob is Princess Diana's, and its legacy continues today. Hairstylist Danielle Louise explained why to Marie Claire UK. "Princess Diana's influence has never really disappeared, but we're definitely seeing a new generation discovering her style," she shared. "Clients are asking for hair that's elegant, healthy and full of movement rather than something that looks deliberately effortless."

Additionally, Queen Camilla and other women in the royal family are creating their own unique signature bob styles. Bringing the below photos to your next salon appointment is sure to bring freshness to this timeless look.

The award for Best Queenly Bob goes to Camilla, of course. While we knew her for this haircut long before she became a royal, it's taken center stage during her reign because it's styled to perfection. Honestly, Queen Camilla's voluminous '70s bob at Trooping the Colour 2026 was perfect for older women to copy because it adds volume and dimension to the hair without looking too over the top. 

Camilla's longtime hairstylist Jo Hansford also noted that the queen made subtle changes to her cut and color over time to suit where she is in life. "We've changed the color gradually, so it isn't noticed, and I think it really suits her," Hansford told Hello! in 2025. This color shift refers to her transition from a white blond shade to more of a warm-hued honey color. "It's [also] not quite as long as it used to be, and not as flicky" she added.

Hansford also noted that Camilla is pretty self-sufficient when it comes to her hair, meaning this style of bob is pretty easy to manage. "I think it looks really good, and she manages it well," she said. "She isn't dependent on people all the time unless she has to style it for a special occasion. She's very low-maintenance."

The layered bob is definitely the right way to add texture to your trendy short hair. Arguably one of the most iconic bobs in the world, Princess Diana really owned this feathery, layered cut. While this type of style was definitely popular in the early '90s (when Diana rocked it), it's still timeless because it would look gorgeous even today. 

Diana's hairstylist Sam McKnight shared the story behind her iconic cut with Vogue UK, stating that he met the late princess at a Vogue shoot in 1990. "At the end of the shoot she asked me what I'd do to her hair if I could do anything I wanted, and I said, 'Well, I'd just cut it all off and start again,' because it was 1990," he said. "There was a sharpening up of those really maximalist silhouettes from the '80s coming, and a much leaner, almost androgynous power dressing had appeared on the scene. I said, 'Cut it off, get rid of the '80s frou-frou and start again with a minimal, short haircut.' Which is what we did."

While this style of bob might not be for everyone, it is a great option for anyone looking for something a little bolder that, like Camilla's style, is easy to maintain.

Lady Louise flies a bit under the radar compared to other royals like Camilla, but her style of bob works beautifully for curly hair. While the length teeters between a traditional bob and a lob, it really works for her and can be styled so many ways. This cut appears to be more recent, as in the past, Lady Louise has worn her hair a lot longer. It seems both Lady Louise and her mother Sophie decided to undergo a bit of a hair transformation in 2026, with both cutting their hair shorter. 

While we loved Louise's longer hair, this new blunter style is stunning, and we appreciate how she styled it half-up half-down in the above photo. Perhaps she decided that since she's now a university graduate, it was time for a new look. For anyone with curls, this is a great option for summer and most likely will keep you cooler than a traditionally longer mane.

Of course, that leads us to our next source of salon inspo, Duchess Sophie's gorgeous bob. Hairstylist Mark Leeson described Sophie's new cut in detail to Elle UK. "Sophie's new cut is what I'd describe as a soft evolution of the classic bob," he explained. "Unlike the iconic sharp, graphic bobs we've seen in the past, this version sits around the jaw-to-chin line with gentle movement, soft face-framing and a polished yet effortless finish. It's elegant, flattering and easy to wear, which is exactly why this style is proving so popular."

Leeson pretty much said it all, but Sophie's cut is so chic and flattering, especially for oval face shapes. While it is a more classic take on the bob, it's great inspiration for anyone who wants something simple and elegant. Leeson also added that it's one of the few haircuts that can work at any age. "[It's] equally chic on someone in their twenties as it is on someone in their sixties or seventies," he added.