Look, the royal family has certain expectations — just ask Meghan Markle. So, someone like Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, doesn’t have the same freedom when it comes to her hair cut, color, and style as certain celebs, who can dye their hair quarantine-blue one day, then debut a brand-new blonde a week later. Kate Middleton’s hair lives by a strict code — and yet, the Duchess’ brunette mane has become a source of admiration for many fans. Over her years as a royal, Kate’s signature waves, intricate updos, and subtle highlights have been the subject of hair envy Pinterest boards everywhere — and who else remembers the shock waves when she dipped her toe in the blonde pool? Kate Middleton’s hair over the years always stuns, whether it’s a sporty ponytail or glossy curls. And we’re taking you on her hair journey right now.

Kate most recently made headlines with her head of hair on an appearance on BBC Breakfast, where she showed off dirty blonde or “bronde” highlights just in time for summer. While this isn’t the first time the Duchess has lightened her hair for the season, this year’s style is an especially light golden hue, accented by a center part and freshly layered hair for a bright and bouncy look.

Summer highlights aren’t Kate’s only beauty secret. Looking back at her hair styles as a royal, we noticed a few tricks the Duchess has used more than once — and clearly, the royal knows her way around a curling iron.

Here’s a look back at how Kate Middleton’s hair has evolved over the years.

A version of this article was originally published July 2020.

Kate Middleton’s sleek updo for King Charles III’s coronation made her look exceptionally regal, and boy does that tiara look perfect on her deep brown locks.

For her surprise visit to the Baby Bank, Kate wowed in her go-to blowout hairstyle, making her hair look so voluminous and soft

For the 2023 Easter Mattins Service, Kate wowed in every aspect of her look, including her hair. For the occasion, she not only straightened it, but parted and separated as such to show her ears and give her a wispy vibe.

She may have switched things up with a power suit for her visit at the inaugural meeting of new Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, but Kate still wowed everyone with her iconic curly blow-out.

While visiting the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, she decided to rock her classic honey-highlighted waves!

While visiting the National Maritime Museum on Feb 09, 2023, Kate Middleton rocked her bounciest curls to date!

On March 1, 2023, Kate wowed in a gorgeous vibrant coat and to top it off, she stepped out in a gorgeous braided bun that may have been the most intricate hair we’ve ever seen.

Before she went to break a sweat (and even after), no one could take their eyes off of Kate’s straightened hair.

Both super-bouncy and iconic straight style, we’re still not over Kate’s luscious locks from her visit to the Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre.

While there are the tiniest semblances of her natural waves in her hair, Kate Middleton arrived at the 2023 BAFTAs in her straight hair look that she knows everyone loses it over!

For Kate Middleton’s first appearance since Prince Harry’s memoir release, she decided to go back to her roots by rocking her iconic wavy hair (which the wind only added more glamour to!)

As Kate Middleton attended the King’s Diplomatic Reception on Dec 6, she paired the Lotus Flower Tiara with smooth slicked back hair and steered clear of her signature loose waves. The perfect way to let the dress and tiara speak for themselves!

At the Royal Film Performance of Top Gun: Maverick in May 2022, Duchess Catherine had not a hair out of place for this sleek, flat-ironed look — just in case she needed to strap on a helmet, perhaps?

Kate Middleton’s blonder bits of hair were on full display during her visit to the Natural History Museum in June 2021.

At Day 12 of Wimbledon, Kate went for classic princess hair — long and loose with pletny of body.

For the G7 Summit, Kate’s hair was kept to a neat and tidy mane hitting below her shoulders.

In May 2021 as the world slowly reopened, Kate made time to meet with 5-year-old Mila Sneddon, a cancer patient who was more than a little excited to sit with the Duchess.

On her trip to Edinburgh, Kate’s curls had a particularly coppery hue off-set by her many green ensembles.

Kate Middleton’s petal-pink Wimbledon look in 2021 was offset with equally adorable hair with big, bouncing curls looping widely down her back.

Kate Middleton pulled her hair up in a modest updo secured with a black fascinator for Prince Philip’s funeral.

Kate turned heads across the world with the debut of her July 2020 hair: a new, warm honey blonde that has us cursing being on lockdown extra hard this week.

Kate adds an edge to her normally soft style with this blunt lob — off-set by a few face-framing layers, of course.

These perfect curls show off her highlighted front strands.

These shoulder-length brown curls are a Kate classic.

These looser waves give Kate a relaxed look, and her highlights catch the sun beautifully.

In 2018, Kate played around with a straighter look and cut her hair short.

Kate’s giving us major Rebecca Pearson vibes in this one — or is she just secretly Mandy Moore’s doppelgänger?

This casual marathon look includes some straight hair, some wavy, and all classic Kate.

With all that long brown hair, it must have taken hours to get these smaller curls just right.

Normally, Meghan Markle is the beachy one of the royals — but Kate’s soft flowing hair here might give her a run for her money.

Another Kate classic, the elegant chignon — all the better to let her red dress do the talking.

There are faint hints of gold in the Duchess’ hair, but otherwise this looks like she’s just rolled out of bed — well, maybe a quick dry conditioner.

Fancy occasions call for fancy hats and fancy hairdos, like this lovely loose chignon.

Who says sporty chic can’t be high-shine and fabulous? Not this Duchess.

Instead of a more careful coil, Kate will sometimes go for a looser, bouncier curl.

We’re dying over the caramel streak in Kate’s hair here, and it’s one of our favorite straight-hair looks on her.

Kate is packing high shine and zero frizz here, and we’ll need her stylist’s number ASAP.

Kate’s staggered layers and side part keep her hair full of volume — and out of her face.

A hairstyle often seen on Bachelor contestants, barrel curls look good on royalty too.

Again, whatever Keratin treatment she’s getting, we want it. You could see that hair shining from a mile away.

Blair Waldorf is shaking! This headband adds a preppy touch to an already sleek style.

Kate clearly put her curling iron to good use on these long and lightened strands.

So loosely curled it *almost* looks natural — but just a little too perfect to be accidental.

Kate’s half-up half-down style lets her hair gather and cascade in curls down her back — and highlights her stunning cheekbones.

This picture captures just how much dimension goes into Kate’s hair color.

Kate’s lighter hue is stunning against her camel jacket, and face-framing curls give way to loose waves.

Kate kept the volume of her curls with a straight look by incorporating piecey layers around her face and neck.

While Kate’s hair may look straight from the beach, the Duchess was already transitioning her hair back to its darker winter hues in September 2019 — more Cape Cod and less Cali girl.

No split ends here! Kate’s hair is trimmed to perfection and falling right into place.

This hair screams garden party — or is that just Kate’s entire essence? Kate almost let her shoulder-length hair down, but couldn’t resist a classic face-framing strand of hair.

I’m pretty sure only Disney princesses are supposed to have hair like this. We’re guessing a larger wand curling iron made this stunning look.

It’s rare to see Kate without even a single face-framing strand, but this understated chignon proves she can pull off anything.

Jessica Simpson or Kate Middleton? The Duchess stepped out in June 2019 looking like she’d had a whole lot of fun in the sun.

Whose hair is more full of secrets, Kate Middleton’s or Regina George’s? This attention-grabbing chignon and royal blue ensemble scream drama.

Kate let her layers do the talking with this flipped out look.

This is the hair they show in Pantene commercials, I’m pretty sure. These curls are so moisturized I’m thirsty just looking at them, and these no-frizz curls look carved into place.

Long hair can be a lot to deal with, so the Duchess gave herself a break in late 2018 and set some inches free.

There are probably 75 pins holding that bun in place and it probably hurts like hell. I love it anyway.

An age-old sign of status, Kate’s fascinator is made all the sleeker by her straight shiny hair below.

A little effort for a lot of drama. This gorgeous clash of texture ends in a mess of small intricate curls.

The year is 2015 and Kate Middleton’s hair has never been bigger. The Duchess let her thick locks stretch their legs a bit.

Who is this?! Kate is giving us Jackie O. vibes with this flipped-out sassy hair and houndstooth coat.

Sure, the fascinator’s doing the heavy lifting here. But Kate’s shiny curl pull the whole look together.

Kate’s side part adds some dimension to this straight-hair mid-length look.

Kate’s impressive mane here ranges from dark brown to golden blond, thick and straight to curly — and all of it is gorgeous.

Who’s this blonde bombshell? Oh, just Kate Middleton in 2013, pushing the boundaries of royal hair dye protocol. We love to see it.

Oh yes: even royalty gets the occasional urge to try out bangs. Kate pairs them here with a darker-than-usual hue.

This was Kate’s hair during one of her first royal appearances after the wedding — the original royal look, shall we say.

Though the Duchess is often known for her side part these days, her early years as a royal showcased long, long hair and a part down the center.

Kate is giving us major glamour with her romantic curls in her natural brown shade of hair.

We can’t confirm that the Duchess had a balayage treatment specifically, but these carefully placed highlights are giving us life.

Like Kate’s lightweight knit sweater here, this hair style is low maintenance but high style.

For Royal Ascot Day, a formal chignon was again in order, this time a braided style.

This haircut looks like it was made for being windswept — which honestly, happens to the Duchess a lot.

The little trick that elevates everything: Kate’s wrapped her own hair around the base of her ponytail, so no unseemly bands are in sight.

And of course, the royal look that started it all: Kate’s chocolate brown mane tucked elegantly under her wedding veil.