Diana’s Hairstylist Comes to Kate’s Defense After Criticism of Her Blonde Look: ‘Leave Her Alone’

The Princess debuted noticeably longer, voluminous caramel-blonde hair, a departure from the rich chestnut shade that had defined her style for years.

Princess Kate made a return to royal duties after a nearly 2-month summer break, and ideally, it should have been a simple, celebratory moment. She and Prince William stepped out together at the Natural History Museum on September 4, meeting schoolchildren, touring the newly transformed gardens, and even laughing off an unexpected downpour. But while the couple’s appearance was meant to highlight the museum’s work, it was Kate’s striking new look that quickly stole the spotlight, and not in a good way. 

The Princess of Wales debuted noticeably longer, voluminous caramel-blonde hair; a departure from the rich chestnut shade that had defined her style for years. Within hours, social media was awash with speculation. Was she wearing extensions? Could it be a wig? What should have been a lighthearted fashion talking point spiraled into harsh online commentary. Sources close to the Princess pushed back on that speculation, telling The Daily Beast she had not turned to artificial hairpieces.

As the criticism grew vicious, royal hairstylist Sam McKnight, who worked with Princess Diana during the last years of her life, spoke out in Kate's defense. “A woman’s hair is very personal to her. It’s armor, defence, confidence, and so much more,” McKnight wrote in an Instagram post. He continued, “I cannot believe how evil and lacking in any kind of empathy are the comments, the majority made apparently by other women, attacking a vulnerable young woman, who has no choice, by dint of who she married and the role she took on, to bravely face the public.” McKnight added that Kate, like Diana before her, represents the country on the world stage and does so with quiet resilience. “She has brilliantly and quietly, unselfishly represented our country, the soft power we still have as a nation,” he stressed. The stylist made clear that Kate’s health history made the situation especially cruel. “Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone,” he reminded critics. “So... LEAVE HER ALONE. SHAME ON YOU.”

The Princess of Wales stepped out twice this week, and while the first look was a hot topic, the second was her going back to her roots. On Saturday, she attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup, her hair pulled back into a sleek half-ponytail that revealed a noticeably darker shade with soft golden undertones.

Royal correspondent Tom Sykes suggested that part of the debate around Kate’s new look may stem from the recent departure of her longtime aide and stylist, Natasha 'Tash' Archer. “Her appearance earlier this week was the first full outing Kate has done without the guiding hand of Tash Archer, who has been at her side for nearly two decades,” Sykes wrote for The Daily Beast. “Tash wasn’t a hairdresser, but she was the person who pulled the whole look together — gown, jewels, hair, the balance of colors. She was the architect of the so-called ‘Kate effect.’” Archer, who started working with Kate in the early 2010s, officially left in July 2025 to set up her own consultancy, though she remained loosely involved during a short transition.