Karwai Tang
Kate Middleton finally listened to a Sabrina Carpenter album and decided to embrace the blonde life. At least, that’s our working theory after seeing the latest photo of her driving away from church services at Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire on August 24 with Prince William (they are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland; listen, it’s a complicated empire). It’s a little hard to see beneath her black hat and through the window, but it’s definitely the lightest her famously glossy dark hair has ever been. Way to mix it up, Catherine!
Paul Campbell – PA Images/Getty Images
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
The last time we checked in with the Princess of Wales was at Wimbledon in July, when she had plenty of golden allover highlights (she’s done the lighter-in-the-sunlight blonde tease before), but it was still very much in the brunette family, so to say this is a difference is an understatement. It’ s still long and shiny and lightly wavy and perfect—she is Kate Middleton, after all—but it’s by far the biggest change to her look we’ve seen…ever? Unless you count the bangs? But going blonde > curtain bangs, right?
Catherine, Princess of Wales attends day 13 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025.
Rob Newell – CameraSport/Getty Images
The picture we have isn’t quite good enough to tell what shade the future queen is currently sporting, but we’d bet it’s somewhere in the cozy/honey blonde family. “Cozy blonde is a term used to describe a super-low-maintenance approach to being a blonde,” says Michelle Cleveland, celebrity hair-extension artist and Wella master color expert. “The look embraces more depth in the hair with lowlights and strategic placement of lighter blonde shades, allowing for a low-maintenance blonde that works for any season.”
It’s great for anyone transitioning from brunette to blonde and vice versa, like Kate Middleton. “Anyone who feels a little washed out from the overall brightness [of their blonde] usually transitions very well into wearing this look,” Cleveland says, as do those who are tired of upkeep that is too time-consuming, expensive, or damaging. “In this case, your stylist can create a cozy blonde that gives you the best of both worlds.”
Originally Appeared on Glamour