After Kate Middleton divided the internet with her new honey-blonde locks earlier this month, she appears to have already made a hair U-turn. Her blonde ’do – thought to be her lightest ever – drew as many cruel comments as it did compliments, with some saying the shade didn’t suit her. No wonder then, just days later, that the Princess of Wales was back to being a brunette when pictured on royal duties.
After some of the mean comments about her lighter locks, sources tell heat that it was a ‘big wobble’ for the 43 year old. ‘This has been an incredibly tough time for Kate. To face such harsh public criticism over her hair and looks has been triggering to say the least,’ we’re told. ‘She had been feeling like she had been in a bubble away from all the noise with the summer holidays, so to come back and face scrutiny was a massive shock to the system, and it did cause her a bit of an emotional wobble.
‘The backlash came as a shock to Kate, as she’s had such incredible public support ever since her cancer diagnosis was made public last year. She has received so many lovely messages and getting herself back into the spotlight has been a slow and steady journey, so to be so quickly pulled apart over her looks was really disheartening for her.’
While many praised Kate’s colour change, others preferred her usual darker shade. ‘Don’t like the new hair colour. The darker hair was more flattering – the blonde is washing her out,’ one online commenter wrote, with another remarking, ‘She’s beautiful with darker hair. It looks like a wig or extensions.’ Others stood up for the Princess, saying ‘it’s nice to see a change-up’, while a second commented, ‘You look amazing and beautiful as always.’
Kate’s new look came eight months after she revealed she is in remission from cancer, following her diagnosis in early 2024. As well as her health battle, she’s also had to deal with ongoing stress over the fallout with her beloved brother-in-law Prince Harry – who met with his father King Charles last week in what’s been seen as the first step to a reconciliation.
Having faced criticism before for her ‘ordinary’ style and heavy use of eyeliner when she first started dating Prince William, 43, our source says she’s aware that this will pass.
Our insider says, ‘She’s obviously faced intense scrutiny in the past, during her early days with William, but it’s been a while since she felt attacked over her appearance. Kate had been hoping for a bit more grace given what is known about her health battle, but she also understands that as a public figure under the spotlight, it can come with the territory.
'Even when it gets nasty, Kate has to find her inner strength to rise above it all and move forward with class, as she always does. But it’s still been a tough ride for her, especially with so much going on with the royal family right now – at one point she seriously wondered how much more she could take of it all.’
Fortunately Kate has had support from many, including Princess Diana’s hairstylist Sam McKnight, who called the trolls ‘evil’. ‘I am shocked, horrified, dismayed and disgusted by all the nasty comments about the Princess of Wales. A woman’s hair is very personal to her, it’s armour, defence, confidence and so much more,’ he wrote. ‘She has brilliantly and quietly, unselfishly represented our country… So FFS LEAVE HER ALONE. SHAME ON YOU.’
We’re told that Kate – who’s mum to George, 12, Charlotte, ten, and Louis, seven – wanted to revert back to her classic hair colour after the backlash. Our insider says, ‘She immediately wanted to make changes to tone down her hair to shift the focus elsewhere and for her to get on with her job. William has been supportive, and the children have proven to be a good distraction, but it has still felt isolating to know that the world is talking about your looks.’