Catherine, Princess of Wales—widely known as Kate Middleton—appeared with markedly lighter, blonde-toned hair at the Natural History Museum on September 4, 2025. A salon owner called it “the blondest we have seen her,” but that is a visual judgment, not a measured ranking. The look was also short-lived: four days later, she was reported to be brunette again.
When did Kate Middleton appear with lighter hair?
The change drew attention during Catherine’s September 4, 2025 visit with Prince William to the Natural History Museum’s newly renovated gardens. Vogue described the shade as ash blonde, while ELLE called it light bronde and quoted colorist Jacob Schwartz describing it as golden beige. Those are editorial and expert descriptions; no official shade name was announced.
Earlier August photographs taken through a car window made it difficult to judge how much lighter her hair had become. The September appearance offered a clearer view against the brunette looks she had worn before it. Vanity Fair, for example, described her hair as brunette at Wimbledon on July 12, 2025. Vogue; ELLE; Vanity Fair
Was this her biggest hair-color change?
“Biggest” is best understood as a description of how dramatic the change looked, not a verifiable ranking. Neville Tucker, owner of Neville’s salon, told Vanity Fair: “It makes the change quite dramatic, I would say this is the blondest we have seen her.” He also said she had been experimenting with blonde tones for a while. Vogue reported that after returning to royal duties in 2024, she had gradually lightened her hair from deep chocolate brown toward ash blonde; that account does not establish the Princess’s own explanation or confirm a salon process.
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On the available descriptions, the September 2025 look was a conspicuous departure from her familiar brunette hair—and the blondest a named observer said he had seen her. It is not evidence of an objectively measured “biggest” change across every appearance. Vanity Fair; Vogue
Was the blonde look permanent?
No. Marie Claire reported that she was back to brunette at an event four days after the museum appearance, marking the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. In August 2026, the magazine described her summer highlights as lighter than her August 1 sun-kissed brown shade but less dramatic than the 2025 transformation. The reports point to changing looks over time, not a permanent switch to blonde. Marie Claire
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How can someone ask a colorist for a similar look?
The Princess’s method has not been established, so her appearance cannot be used as a formula or a promise of a particular result. ELLE’s general guidance for clients was to discuss their starting color and desired finish with a professional: education director Renée Valerie Radoiu recommended asking about babylights followed by a golden gloss toner for darker hair, while someone already blonde might need only a gloss. Schwartz characterized the shade as golden beige and suggested it could be relatively easy to maintain.
- Bring a reference photo and explain whether you want a subtle bronde effect or a more obvious blonde result.
- Ask the colorist to assess your starting color, the process needed, and how often the result may require upkeep.
- Treat babylights and gloss as options to discuss, not a confirmed description of what produced Catherine’s look.
ELLE did not identify a product used by or endorsed by the Princess, and its suggestions are general color guidance. ELLE
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What is known—and what is not—about the change?
Photographs and public appearances document that her hair looked lighter on September 4, 2025, and that subsequent reporting described a return to brunette. The reviewed coverage does not identify her colorist or establish whether dye, highlights, extensions, styling, lighting, or a combination produced the appearance. It also does not confirm her motivation. No Palace or Princess statement confirming the process was reported in the coverage cited here.
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