The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has finally addressed the mystery behind her noticeably lighter hair that created headlines this autumn. During the Royal Variety Performance in London on November 19, where she appeared with Prince William for their first joint red carpet appearance in two years, the Princess shared the simple secret behind her hair transformation with actress Su Pollard.
The Royal Hair Revelation
According to Pollard's account to the Daily Mail, she complimented Kate backstage, saying "I like your hair, it looks a lot lighter." The Princess of Wales reportedly responded with a natural explanation: "It used to be brown, but it's gone light in the sunshine." This casual exchange marked the first time Kate has publicly commented on her hair color change that initially caught public attention in September.
The hair transformation first became visible when Kate appeared with Prince William at the Natural History Museum's gardens in London, showcasing a new caramel-blonde shade that dramatically lightened her typically brunette locks. However, just two days later at the Women's Rugby World Cup, her hair appeared noticeably darker, suggesting a temporary color change or perhaps different lighting conditions.
Emotional Connections and Shared Experiences
The Royal Variety Performance hosted more than just hair conversations. Kate shared a particularly tender moment with singer Jessie J, where the two bonded over their personal experiences with cancer. According to The Independent, Jessie J explained their interaction: "Mum to mum, who has just recently gone through cancer, I just wanted to give her a hug."
She added that they "acknowledged that it's something that is not easy to go through, especially in the public eye." Jessie J had revealed her diagnosis with early breast cancer in June and later confirmed to fans that the cancer hadn't spread following successful surgery.
Kate's Journey to Recovery
Princess Kate's appearance at the Royal Variety Performance represents a significant milestone in her health journey. In March 2024, she announced she was undergoing cancer treatment, and by September, she confirmed she was cancer-free. "I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," she wrote on X at the time.
The mother of three - Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (7) - returned to work in September 2024 after completing preventative chemotherapy. She has been open about the challenges of post-treatment life, describing how "you put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment" but noted that "the phase afterwards is really, really difficult."
Kate emphasized the ongoing nature of recovery, stating that "you have to find your new normal and that takes time...and it's a roller coaster, it's not smooth, like you expect it to be. But the reality is you go through hard times." Her appearance at the Royal Variety Performance, complete with her sun-lightened hair and warm interactions, shows her continuing progress along this journey back to public life.
