Kate Middleton Rocks Dramatic New Tiara Hairstyle at State Banquet

Kate Middleton let her hair down for the U.S. state banquet at Windsor Castle, wearing her tiara-topped style in a brand new way.

On Sept. 17, the Princess of Wales, 43, joined King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and other members of the royal family at the banquet organized for President Donald Trump‘s state visit to the U.K.

Kate had a total princess moment in a silk crepe gown with a gold Chantilly lace evening coat by British bridal designer Phillipa Lepley, completing the look with her go-to Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara and a first for her hair.

Princess Kate wore her long locks in cascading curls, and in a rare PDA snap of her and William, captured from the back, gave a full look at the romantic ringlets.

While the Princess of Wales has made a bouncy blowout her signature hairstyle, a look she’s known to spice up with curls, different parts or half-updos, her state banquet waves marked her curliest hairstyle yet with a tiara.

The soft texture framed her face and she used the sparkler to push back some of her hair in a headband-like style, as seen from the side when she clinked glasses with the president.

Kate has had tons of tiara moments since marrying Prince William in 2011 and has made Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot a favorite like her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. However, Kate almost exclusively wore her hair in chignons with tiaras during her first decade in the royal family.

It wasn’t until December 2022 that she let her hair down with the Lotus Flower Tiara at a Buckingham Palace reception.

The Princess of Wales has worn her hair down with the glittering headpieces for almost every tiara wear since, most recently rocking that combination at the French state banquet in July.

The statement made waves as it marked Kate’s first time back in a tiara since 2023 after a difficult chapter.

The Princess of Wales was outside of the limelight for most of 2024 after announcing that she was receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer and said in January that she in remission.

Just a few weeks ago, Kate’s hair color generated buzz when she returned to work after a traditional summer break with her blondest tresses ever.

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She seemed to change the shade just a few days later, however, and took her hair back to the rich brown that is her natural color.