The Princess of Wales was the belle of the ball last week as she stepped onto the red carpet at the BAFTAs 2026. Kate and Prince William looked the image of style and grace at the glitzy awards ceremony, with Kate recycling a blush pink and mauve Gucci dress and donning royal heirloom drop earrings.
Beauty fans were quick to notice that Kate’s famously immaculate brunette mane, which is often blow-dried to perfection in voluminous, sumptuous curls, was replaced with a more corkscrew, tightly woven curl that looked like a cascading array of ringlets.
Kate’s hair had a distinctive ’80s wave that was much bolder than the bouncy coiffed style that hairstylist Richard Ward famously created for her in 2010.
© Getty Images“Kate’s latest look is what I would describe as the classic ’80s curl, which looks to have been pin-curled and set into place,” Alicia Dobson, international hair stylist, told HELLO!. “It embodies femininity and softness, which complement her pink Gucci dress.”
How to get Kate-approved curls
This type of look is a much more traditional curl. Despite the fact that it appears tighter, it can be achieved at home with the right tools. “Kate’s voluminous curl at the BAFTAs can be achieved by taking small sections of hair, either curled in the same direction or alternate directions,” celebrity hair stylist Michael Gray tells HELLO!.
© BAFTA via Getty Images“Using a product like the Living Proof ‘Flex’ hairspray, which can be used as a heat defence spray, take a 24mm curling tong, and start from just above the cheekbone to complement the overall look. Once the curls have cooled down, gently break them up with a little oil. I use the Wella Professional ‘Ultimate Smooth Miracle Oil Serum’, which is great to run through the hair with your hands to help maintain hydration and shine. Lastly, loosely brush out the curls with a comb for an undone look, which still maintains a gorgeous, glossy shine, and a perfect, red-carpet finish.”
Kate’s mermaid hair
The wife of Prince William has admittedly always sported long hair, but she has dabbled in slightly shorter styles over the years, choosing to opt for a long bob on more than one occasion.
© GettyBut now, her hair appears to have great length and is almost down to her mid-waist; the longest it’s been in a very long time, debunking the notion that women over 40 should stay away from longer styles.
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