Hair style file: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge has a head of thick glossy brunette hair that is undoubtedly the envy of many. And, ever since she first stepped onto the world stage as Prince William’s girlfriend after meeting at university in 2001, her lustrous locks have, in the many years since, become as iconic as her much-copied style.

The duchess’s signature hairstyle is a bouncy shiny blow dry that never fails to leave her looking regal and put together, whether she’s attending a black-tie gala event or dropping her school-aged children — Prince George and Princess Charlotte — off to school.

But her signature ‘do isn’t the only hairstyle the royal calls on. As a working royal, Middleton attends countless official events and social occasions, such as formal weddings, that have strict dress codes requiring a suitable hat or headpiece. And, over the years, the duchess has made the chignon one of her hairstyle go-tos, as the style provides the perfect tress base for a hat, headpiece or glittering tiara.

Unlike Middleton’s simple-yet-stunning blow dry, her chignons are often intricate works of hair art featuring braids, twists and buns, artfully arranged to work with her hat or headpiece of choice for that particular day. 

Middleton’s hair is also, on occasion, pulled back in a sleek ponytail or in a half-up, half-down style — a style she wore at her wedding to Prince William in April 2011.

Of course, this extensive style range wouldn’t be possible without a versatile haircut. The duchess generally keeps her hair long, but has tried a fringe, layers and slightly shorter lengths over the years. And as for her desired shade, the duchess’s colour has been a consistently rich brunette for many years. But in her first move away from her signature deep shade, in September 2019, when she stepped out for Princess Charlotte’s first day at school, she debuted the lightest colour she’s had, with a head full of summery honeyed highlights.

Here, we chart the Duchess of Cambridge’s best hair moments.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Princess Charlotte and Prince George’s school, Thomas’s Battersea in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth Service on Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the first annual gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week at the Phillips Gallery in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to the Foundling Museum in central London in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits King’s College London in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a service of commemoration and thanksgiving to mark Anzac Day in Westminster Abbey in London in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to North Wales in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during Trooping The Colour, the Queen’s annual birthday parade in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2019

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Prince Louis’s christening service at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Lindo Wing with her newborn son Prince Louis in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade at Cavalry Barracks in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Action on Addiction Community Treatment Centre in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the British Academy Film Awards in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal Palace with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a reception dinner at the British Ambassador’s residence during her Royal visit to Sweden and Norway in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Mother and Baby unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Reach Academy with Place2Be in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth Big Lunch at St Luke’s Community Centre in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Fotografiska Gallery in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge celebrating the centenary of the RAF in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Pegasus Primary School in Oxford in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle after the wedding of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a symposium she has organised with The Royal Foundation at the Royal Society of Medicine in 2018

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the ‘Magic Mums’ community Christmas party in 2017

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the annual Remembrance Sunday memorial in 2017

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at The Foundling Museum in 2017

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal Variety Performance at the Palladium Theatre in 2017

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Tiger’s Nest during a visit to Bhutan in 2016

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a cultural welcome in Carcross in 2016

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a reception celebrating UK and Bhutanese friendship and cooperation at the Taj Hotelin 2016

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a children’s party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada in 2016

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Gigaset Charity Polo Match in 2015

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Trooping the Colour in 2015

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte in 2015Click Here: Golf special