Princess Kate Looks Unrecognizable with Golden Blonde Hair in Old Photo

The Princess of Wales’s beautiful brunette hair has become as iconic as her flawlessly elegant wardrobe.

The ‘Kate effect’ has been a major influence on women’s hairstyles for decades. This trend continued when Kate debuted a fresh set of face-framing curtain bangs in September last year.

As a senior member of the royal family and future Queen Consort, Kate has rarely made dramatic changes to her hair, remaining loyal to her signature chocolate brown look. In the 13 years she’s been married to Prince William, she has only slightly altered her hairstyle.

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However, rare photographs unearthed from Kate’s childhood reveal that she once sported bright blonde hair…

Ahead of her royal wedding to the Prince of Wales in 2011, Kate’s father, Michael Middleton, shared a series of childhood photographs of his daughter.

© Shutterstock / The Middleton Family

In one snap, taken in Jerash, Jordan, a four-year-old Kate is seen with her father Michael and sister Pippa, both of whom have golden blonde hair.

The royal’s windswept blonde locks, which were probably due to her age, could have also resulted from the natural bleaching effect of the sun in Jordan, where she spent her early childhood.

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There are few royals with hair as captivating as that of the Princess of Wales. Ever since she emerged on the scene as Prince William’s university sweetheart, Kate’s glossy brunette tresses have long been the envy of royal fans, who have been eager to uncover the secrets behind her signature healthy curls.

© Max Mumby/Indigo

From whispers of hair extensions to the subtle art of hair-thickening highlights that add depth and dimension, experts have offered several insights into Kate’s hair secrets.

Olia Cutz, a hair extension specialist and founder of The Extensionist, has commented that Kate’s tumbling waves could be attributed to a nearly-undetectable type of hair extension.

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“If she does have extensions, she could have had individual strands of keratin bonds, as they can be hidden perfectly, even when her hair is up,” explained Olia.

“Kate could easily have tapes or ultra bonds, which are tiny strands of hair extensions. They add thickness and length to any hair type but are incredibly hard to detect.”

Following her latest appearance, Michael Gray, an award-winning hairstylist for John Frieda, spoke about Kate’s subtle blonde highlights.

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“The Princess has introduced subtle highlights in a balayage style to give the illusion of her hair being lighter and brighter for summer,” he explained.

“She keeps depth in certain places, such as along the parting and underneath around her neckline, where the highlights pop subtly. The placement is brilliant, and the hair hasn’t been lifted too much, making it look neither bold nor strikingly noticeable. The hair tone complements her base color and skin tone with a soft caramel shade.”