By Jack RoystonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPrincess Kate stating the sunshine made her hair lighter sparked "misogynistic and cruel" comments online, according to a columnist who appeared to agree the princess may not have been telling the whole truth.
Kate attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London last week when she spoke to British actor Su Pollard who told her: "I like your hair, it looks a lot lighter."
Pollard later told the Daily Mail that Kate replied: "It used to be brown, but it’s gone light in the sunshine." Kate's new-look lighter hair was debuted back in September, after the summer holidays.
...Why It Matters
Needless to say, not everyone believed that was still the cause deep into a dark and cloudy British November, including some hair color experts who spoke to the British media.
Of course, there is no reason why changing hair color is something to be ashamed about. However, some reputational damage may occur if the public believe Kate is misleading them.
What to Know
Liz Jones, a columnist for the Daily Mail, cast doubt on Kate's account in a piece headlined: "Sorry, but it's now time for Kate to stop making excuses."
"Catherine would have perhaps not wanted to go into naming her hairdresser or the shade on the box," she wrote. "She might not have wanted to dampen a lovely evening with talk about how cancer can change your hair texture and color. And so she replied with something bland and innocuous but, of course, these days proves to be anything but."
Jones suggested Kate had been put on the spot by Pollard and may have simply blurted out an explanation without thinking, in a pressured moment. However, she said Kate would have done better by simply ignoring the question, as Queen Elizabeth II might have done.
"Kate, you are a powerful female figurehead," Jones wrote, "You need to stop justifying your choices: to do so only gives oxygen to the trolls. Diana opened the floodgates when she spoke of bulimia, depression and self-harm—but that was before social media. I doubt she'd have withstood the lack of empathy.
"It might seem trivial, being criticized for your hair, but for most women our hair is our armor. We sometimes hide behind it, flaunt it, flick it, dye it, try out something new. The thought of losing our hair—through chemo, the menopause, stress—is our worst nightmare.
"Accusing Kate of fibbing about her new, buttery and I think deeply flattering shade is misogynistic and cruel. In fact, she's proof you can become extraordinary through sheer force of will.
"Kate, the simple truth is you don't owe us an explanation. The most important sovereignty is the one over your own body. Don't let anyone dull your shine."
What People Are Saying
On X, one royal watcher wrote: "I know the sun can turn dark hair a lighter shade, but it can never go from dark brown to beach blonde especially not from spending time in freaking overcast Balmoral [in Scotland]. Gimme a break. Why do they lie about trivial things like this?"
Another wrote: "What makes it all even weirder is the fact that, in September, after the British 'summer' was over, Cath’s hair was dark again. But then somehow, over October, it lightened again. Curiouser and curiouser."
Seung Ki Baek, creative color expert at RUSH HAIR, previously told the Daily Mail: "Whilst the sun isn’t the only factor to thank for Kate's new look, her transition to a honey blonde hue has instantly brightened her complexion, whilst adding depth and dimension to her naturally darker base."
What Happens Next
Fans of the princess may want to keep an eye on whether Kate's normal hair color does return as she moves further into winter with the summer holiday behind her.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you.
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