Overview

• Princess Kate returned from the summer break with visibly blonder, longer hair, drawing swift online criticism over the change.
• Comments on social platforms labeled the look too light or unnatural and claimed it made her appear older, with some speculating about a wig.
• Sam McKnight, Princess Diana’s former hairstylist, condemned the harsh remarks in an Instagram post and asked people to leave Kate alone.
• McKnight described Kate as a vulnerable young woman in remission after chemotherapy and framed hair as a deeply personal source of confidence.
• At a Women’s Rugby World Cup match in Brighton, her hair appeared darker in some images, prompting notes about lighting and styling altering how the color reads.