How Kate Middleton Allegedly Got the Scar on Her Head

Kate Middleton’s hairstyles have always been a topic of admiration, but in 2011, her hair garnered attention for a different reason. During her first solo engagement as a royal in October that year, the Princess of Wales pulled her hair back, revealing a noticeable 3-inch scar near her hairline. This scar was the result of a childhood surgery.

Before the true cause was clarified, speculation ran wild. Tabloids suggested that Middleton’s scar was from hair extensions, a theory dubbed “Extensiongate.” However, hair expert Louise O’Connor quickly refuted this, stating, “You wouldn’t put an extension that close to the hairline, so it’s doubtful that line is an extension.”

Clarence House promptly put an end to the rumors. One social media user even noted, “Still perplexed that Kate Middleton made her team call the press to refute stories about Botox and hair extensions but not the one about ‘Meghan [Markle] making her cry,'” referring to a 2019 statement about baby Botox speculations. While her representatives clarified the origin of the scar, they withheld specific details.

The scar resulted from a significant childhood surgery. “The scar related to a childhood operation,” her rep disclosed to the Daily Mail, with an additional source noting it was “a very serious operation.” Despite the lack of detail provided by the sources, experts still speculated on the nature of the surgery.

Dr. John Scurr, a surgeon at the Lister Hospital in London, refuted the idea of a tumor removal. “I really doubt it was any serious medical condition and I would say it is as a result of an arteriovenous malformation — a birthmark — being removed,” he commented. However, royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl suggested it was more serious.

In her 2013 book “Kate: The Future Queen,” Nicholl interviewed a former employee at Marlborough College, who recalled, “I can remember the incident and her having an operation.” She noted that Kate was back to school quickly and that her mother, Carole, was understandably worried.

Interestingly, Prince William also sports a noticeable scar on the left side of his forehead. Unlike his wife, William has been open about his scar’s origin. In 1991, eight-year-old William was hit by a seven-iron while playing golf at Ludgrove School. “We were on a putting green and the next thing you know there was a seven-iron and it came out of nowhere and it hit me in the head,” he recounted in a 2009 interview.

The incident significantly influenced his view of golf. During a 2024 visit to Cardiff Metropolitan University, William remarked, “No, the last time I played golf…” before pointing to the mark he calls his “Harry Potter scar.” The injury was severe enough to require surgery for a fractured skull.

The event also highlighted family dynamics, with royal expert Ingrid Seward noting that while Princess Diana stayed by his side, Prince Charles attended the opera. “William was also acutely aware of the lack of his own father’s presence in his life, especially when things went wrong,” observed Seward.