New Glimpse At Kate Middleton's Blond Hair Transformation Has Us Wishing She'd Go Back To Brunette

While visiting London's Natural History Museum on September 4, 2025, Prince William's other half finally gave us a proper look at the new blond color she's been teasing for weeks. Kate Middleton is now rocking her lightest hairstyle yet and it's a serious change of pace from her brunette roots. Though the Princess of Wales is known for her warm chestnut hair, the new color is a cool, ashy "bronde" color — significantly lighter than anything we've seen her wear in the past.

Kate Middleton has had many iconic hair moments over the years, and her soft summer coloring is well suited to darker tresses. Only time will tell if this voluminous blond look will make that list one day. While some fans were excited to see a refreshed look, many felt Middleton had been betrayed by her stylist. "If he had at least made a color analysis of her skin tone, he would have never allowed her to ridicule herself with that hair color that washes her out completely," wrote a Reddit user. "She was better as a dark red hair or straight out brunette." Other commenters speculated that she was actually wearing a wig, or at the very least has extensions under her natural hair. "I think it's a topper. They should've trimmed it and styled it, and they also should have dyed it to match either her more natural color or her skin tone," another Redditor wrote. Needless to say, the new hairstyle has drummed up a lot chatter and debate. 

While we're all about having fun with hair color and trying new 'dos, we can't help but feel nostalgic for Middleton's brunette look. 

While we aren't the biggest fans of this particular shade of blond on the royal, a little more consideration might have helped Kate Middleton avoid her color misstep. If you're trying to find your perfect hair color match, color analysis is the place to start. A dimensional blond shade can be a great option for anyone looking to add depth to their hair color — or just obscure incoming gray hairs. "It tends to suit warmer and neutral skin tones beautifully because the golden tones enhance natural warmth in the complexion," celebrity stylist Jason Collier told The Independent. "That said, it can also be tailored for cooler undertones by balancing the honey with more neutral lowlights."

Once you've nailed the shade, the key to pulling such a transition off beautifully is ensuring your colorist tones as well as lightens, particularly if your undertone skews cool. "For brunettes wanting to achieve something similar, ask your colorist for extensive highlights lifted first, then toned right down — this avoids brassiness or any orangey fade — particularly for hair that is prone to fading too warm," said hairdresser Tom Smith in a July 2025 interview with Elle. "The goal is a neutral bronde with subtle dimension, rather than any bold contrast." We may wish she'd go back to brunette, but if she finds the right blond shade? We might be eating our words.