Princess Kate Middleton showed off noticeably lighter hair and a sun-kissed complexion during the royal family’s summer stay at Balmoral.
Images, which you can see here, showed the Princess of Wales smiling as Prince William drove the family to a service at Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire.
The outing followed Prince William and Kate’s arrival at Balmoral with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. It also came as reports continued to focus on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s expected return to Britain.
Princess Kate Middleton shows off lighter hair for the Balmoral church service
Kate chose a brown pillbox hat from Lock & Co Hatters for the family appearance. She paired it with chandelier earrings, winged black eyeliner, peach-toned blusher and soft pink lip gloss.
The Princess of Wales also wore a grey Ralph Lauren blazer. Although the car obscured much of her outfit, a white ruffled blouse with a distinctive pie-crust collar remained visible. MailOnline identified the blouse as a £149 Holland & Cooper design.
Kate’s “bronde” hair appeared lighter in the latest pictures. She first displayed the shade at Balmoral a year earlier.
Fans were quick to point out Kate’s lighter hair. One person said on X: “Did The Princess of Wales have her hair lightened? It looks good.”
Another wrote: “She’s stunning… Her hair looks lighter. Very nice!!!”
Someone else said: “Has she gone blonde again?”
William and Kate join royals at Crathie Kirk
George, Charlotte and Louis accompanied their parents to the church service. Images showed George sitting behind his mother in the family’s Range Rover.
King Charles and Queen Camilla also attended, travelling in the king’s Bentley State limousine. Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, joined the congregation alongside the Duke of Edinburgh and his daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
Reports described the Balmoral gathering as a family “summit” following news about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. However, royal officials stressed that extended family members traditionally stay at the Scottish estate during the summer.
William and Kate have made no public statement about Harry and Meghan’s reported plans. The brothers’ relationship has faced intense scrutiny since the Sussexes stepped away from senior royal duties and moved to the US in 2020.
What has been reported about Harry and Meghan’s UK return?
According to reports, Harry and Meghan plan to return to Britain after six years in the US. A source close to the couple reportedly said Archie and Lilibet had enrolled at British schools ahead of starting classes in September.
The report suggested the Sussex family could live in a private residence outside London. It also named the Cotswolds as one possible location, although no home has been confirmed publicly.
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Sources cited by MailOnline said the terms agreed when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal life would remain unchanged. The couple would therefore stay outside the ranks of “working royals” and would not receive a “half in, half out” role.
Against that closely watched backdrop, Kate’s Balmoral appearance kept the focus firmly on the Wales family’s traditional summer break. Her brighter hair and warm-weather glow added a relaxed note to the formal Sunday outing.
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