The Duchess of Cambridge is more than just a duchess. To beauty enthusiasts, she’s a legit hair icon. Trust us, since marrying Prince William and officially joining the royal family in 2010, we’ve followed her hair evolution closer than we care to admit — every bouncy blowout, every minor highlight and lowlight shift, every (rare) casual ponytail, and every single iteration of the side bun she’s ever worn (and it’s been many).
Unlike sister-in-law Meghan Markle, the duchess has kept to the strict royal beauty “rules” and chosen to wear quite polished hairstyles for her many official engagements and duties. But this doesn’t mean she can’t have a little fun.
Accessories and updos are both key to Kate’s look. For official engagements, she prefers a classic chignon sometimes with the addition of subtle braids and twists to complement — not compete — with her various hats and fascinators. Her trick to keeping these styles perfectly in place? A good old hairnet. And if she’s on slightly less formal outings, she sometimes goes for small accessories like pearl bobby pins or small velvet bows to jazz up her look a little.
When she’s not on formal royal duties, she will let her hair down (literally) and often chooses big bouncy blowouts. Nothing seems to phase her beautiful blowouts, whether it’s taking part in various sporting events or even giving birth; her voluminous waves always seem to stay perfectly voluminous and wavy, thanks to a team of expert hairstylists (and most likely a ton of flexible-hold hairspray).
Kate is truly the queen duchess of updos, blowouts, and tiaras. And in case you needed any more convincing, keep reading for a closer look at Kate’s best hairstyles throughout the years.
