Kate Middleton Has a Simple Trick to Keep Princess Charlotte from Growing Up 'Too Quickly’: Expert
Royal expert Laura Sutcliffe explained Kate Middleton’s subtle role and simple methods to ensure Princess Charlotte stays true to her age.
Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte’s public appearances, with matching outfits, prove they are the coolest mother-daughter duo. While the young Princess may be the spitting image of her father, she is very much her mother’s mini-me when it comes to fashion choices. Reflecting on the same, royal expert Laura Sutcliffe explained how Middleton carefully curates Charlotte’s outfits and hairstyles to remain age-appropriate. She believes Middleton’s simple approach helps ensure that her daughter "doesn't grow up too quickly."
Sutcliffe spoke about Charlotte's penchant for wearing plaits that many young girls her age seem to have forgotten. She told HELLO!, "It's always lovely to see Princess Charlotte's hair looking so neat, tidy, and pretty at the same time. Charlotte has always been a big fan of plaits and has worn plaited hair throughout most of her public appearances as a royal." Speaking of Middleton's role, she continued, "I think it's great to see a girl of her age experimenting with plaits and having fun with her hair. Lots of people complain that young girls grow up too quickly and do things that are too grown-up with their hair, but Charlotte and her family stay very true to her age and respect it."
Charlotte has worn her hair in braids for several public appearances, most recently at Wimbledon’s Tennis Championship this year. She also sported plaits during the Trooping the Color in 2025 and 2023, as well as at King Charles’s coronation in May 2023. For the 2023 Trooping the Color, her hair was styled into an adorable bun, while at the coronation, her plaited bun was enhanced with a delicate headpiece featuring silver leaves and floral motifs. During Trooping the Color this year, Charlotte sweetly coordinated with mom, Middleton, in a matching blue outfit as they rode together in the carriage procession.
Speaking of Charlotte's evolving fashion sense from a young girl to a growing woman, fashion editor Bethan Holt told PEOPLE, "It felt like a bit of a milestone, like she's transitioning from a sweet little girl in smocked floral dresses to a slightly more grown-up tween vibe." Fashion expert Nicole Robinson echoed, "I think Kate has a really elegant, effortless classic style, and she always looks amazing, so you would assume that would filter down to what she chooses to dress her daughter in." She continued, "The Princess of Wales dresses Charlotte so beautifully. She always looks immaculately turned out, and I'm sure as she gets older that will continue to be the case."
As reported by HELLO!, Middleton herself has also spoken about her daughter's love for plaits during an engagement at The Nook children’s hospice in 2019. While talking to a young girl, she said, "I love your plaits. My daughter Charlotte loves plaits too, but her hair is only this long, so we have to do them up at the side." Charlotte has also transitioned from wearing flowery dresses to polka-dot outfits as she gets older, reminiscent of both her mother and the late Princess Diana.
