The outing also gave fans their first full look at Kate’s striking new hairstyle. Having swapped her signature chocolate-brown locks for a lighter blonde shade, she styled her hair in loose curls and paired the look with a tailored brown blazer over a crisp white shirt.

Kate first gave a glimpse of her new look last month, when she and William were photographed en route to a church service in Scotland with their children—Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven. At the time, eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed the dramatic colour change through the car window.

On social media, admirers praised the transformation, with comments ranging from “That’s a gorgeous colour!” to “Royal glow-up alert!” One user added: “Nice to see her looking so well after her health struggles. The blonde suits her.”

Expert: “A new era” for the Princess

According to behavioural and body language expert Darren Stanton, Kate’s dramatic change signals more than a new hairstyle. “When people change their hair in such a dramatic way, it’s all about renewal, confidence, change and evolution,” he said on behalf of Betfair Slots.

“This is the most dramatic and significant change she can make on an external basis. While this would be a small thing in a normal person, she knows this will go viral globally. Internally, she’s feeling very powerful—in the best possible way—she’s feeling empowered.”

Stanton suggested that the shift reflects how “confident and empowered” the Princess is feeling as she looks ahead to the next chapter, both personally and professionally.