The BAFTAs is one of the most glamorous nights in the royal calendar, with the Prince and Princess of Wales pulling out all the stops on the six occasions they have attended the glitzy awards ceremony.
The starry evening is a chance to get dressed up to the nines, with Hollywood royalty and actual royalty alike styling their hair to perfection – so Princess Kate's more laidback hairstyle at the event last night was a little out of the ordinary.
HELLO! Royal Hubs Editor Ainhoa Barcelona says of the royal's new style: "In the past, the Princess has often used her hair as a distraction technique, so, given all the current noise around the royal family, it's perhaps not surprising that Kate chose a fresh new look for her return to the BAFTAs red carpet on Sunday.
Princess Kate's BAFTAs hair
© BAFTA via Getty ImagesIn previous years, the Princess of Wales has swept her hair up into an elegant chignon or worn it long and poker straight. In 2018, while pregnant with Prince Louis, the future Queen wore her thick chestnut hair in bouncy waves – each time, not a hair was out of place.
© Samir Hussein, GettyThis contrasts with the Princess' 2026 attendance, which saw her wear her (longer than ever) hair in loose, slightly fluffy mermaid waves.
"Princess Kate's hair had a soft, effortless feel, with loose waves that looked relaxed and naturally undone rather than overly polished," says celebrity stylist Melissa Timperley. "The style had gentle movement through the lengths and a a smooth but understated finish. Kate's off centre parting gave the style a modern, romantic look."
To recreate this softer wave at home, Melissa says we should start by prepping damp hair with a lightweight texture spray as well as shine spray and heat protection. "Next, blow dry without aiming for a perfectly sleek finish," she continues.
"You can use a large barrel curling tong to create big, loose waves, wrapping the hair gently and leaving the ends out to keep the look contemporary. The first two sections should be curled back off the face and if you have a finer hair type, curling in opposite directions can give you a messier result, whereas curling them in the same way will give you a more polished result.
"Once the hair has cooled, brush through to break up the curls and create that airy, relaxed texture. Finish with a light mist of flexible hold hairspray and a touch of dry texture spray through the mid lengths to maintain the soft, undone effect."
A new approach
While of course Princess Kate still looked flawless, allowing her hair to be less than perfect speaks volumes according to body language expert Judi James, who suggests that the royal's increased love of country life could be impacting her styling choices.
© WireImagePrincess Kate has opted for a softly flowing look, from her long tumbling curls to the rippling, flowing style of her dress, which suggests a move away from the more high-status, wide-shouldered, golden goddess looks of some of her previous red-carpet appearances," Judi began.
Judi notes: "This much looser, more natural look appears in keeping with some of passions for nature and the countryside."
© Alamy Stock PhotoIndeed, since her cancer diagnosis, Princess Kate has spoken at length about her appreciation for nature and how healing she has found it, and it seems her more laidback lifestyle is reflected in her styling choices.
While the Princess still has a jam-packed royal schedule, with last week seeing her attend the Six Nations rugby as well as the BAFTAs, she is prioritising time in nature and at home in Windsor with Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.
The Wales family has lived in the grounds of Windsor Great Park since 2022, shunning city life and their Kensington Palace home for country walks and outdoor pursuits – activities that even a Princess doesn't need perfect hair for.
Adapting our look
Princess Kate isn't alone in adapting her style to fit her surroundings. Think about your last coastal or beach break – chances are, you abandoned your straighteners on day one after realising even ghds were no match for salty air and the sea breeze.
The same goes for snowy breaks – when you've got a ski helmet on all day, the only hairstyle that will withstand the sweaty headgear is a tightly wound braid – which you might not dream of wearing in your everyday life.
© Getty ImagesVisiting family in the countryside calls for a different look - in my case, anyway. When I'm in London ,I spend half an hour blow-drying my hair in the morning, but there's just no need when I'm in the sticks, where nobody will see me, and sleek hair would look at odds with a countryside puffer coat.
It seems this is the approach Princess Kate is taking too, shunning hours of styling in favour of easy-to-style and wear hair dos. And as a busy mother who insists on doing the school run when she can, anything that takes the pressure out of her mornings is surely a good thing.
Approachable Princess
Country style aside, it's no secret that it's been a tumultuous few weeks for the royal family, and Princess Kate's move away from total perfection could also be an attempt to appear more approachable and down-to-earth.
"Her tumbling mermaid waves created a more laidback and effortless look, and the style paired beautifully with her flowing, ethereal Gucci gown," Ainhoa says. "The last time Kate wore this particular dress in public was in 2019, when she attended a gala dinner at the V&A Museum. On this occasion, Kate went for a tight half-updo, which felt more formal. Her modern makeover at the BAFTAs seemed to say she is ready for a fresh start – perhaps a sign that she and William's monarchy will be moving with the times too."
© Getty ImagesWhile of course the Princess of Wales has always been among our most relatable royals, the decision to sidestep polished perfection to attend an A-list occasion is an interesting one. When Hollywood's greats are rarely seen without a hair out of place, Princess Kate proved she's more like the public than the actresses on the red carpet, making royal watchers love her even more, and endearing us to her when her family is under scrutiny.
