How Kate Middleton’s Wedding Hairstyle Broke Royal Protocol
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The Princess of Wales opted for loose, romantic curls on her wedding day
There’s no denying that Kate Middleton gave us one of the best bridal moments in royal history (if not just history). The Princess of Wales remains the blueprint for wedding style, over a decade on from her big day – and not just because of her stunning dress. Here, we look back on the wedding hairstyle that broke royal tradition and made Kate Middleton one of the most memorable brides ever.
A Look Back At Kate Middleton’s Wedding Hairstyle
When we think back to 29 April 2011 – the day Prince William and Kate Middleton officially tied the knot – most of us will remember the stunning wedding dress, the veil and maybe even her milky bridal manicure. But others will remember the Princess of Wales’ glossy brown curls falling delicately across her back and shoulders.
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Soft, romantic and timeless, Kate Middleton’s bridal look has been a source of inspiration ever since – and the same goes for her hair. ‘Kate Middleton’s wedding hair still resonates with brides today because it stands the test of time,’ explains Jay Birmingham, celebrity hairdresser and owner of Jay B Haircare. ‘Her demi chignon look was both classic yet contemporary, the perfect balance between natural and glamorous. It also broke tradition from how most royal brides wear their hair – it was iconic and it set a new standard for bridal style, showcasing how a bridal hair look can still look incredibly elegant but understated too.’
How Did Kate Middleton Wear Her Hair On Her Wedding Day?
Styled by James Pryce and Richard Ward, hairdressers from the Richard Ward Salon in Chelsea – the same salon she still goes to today – Kate Middleton’s bridal hairstyle consisted of a demi chignon that left most of her hair down in soft curls.
It apparently took months for the two hairstylists to perfect the look, and the full routine for the day required extensive preparation – including a wash, blow dry and curl-setting the night before, alongside two more hours of styling on the morning of.
‘Kate’s hair on her wedding day was a beautiful pairing of formal at the front and romance at the back,’ adds Jay. ‘She sported a half-up half-down look, which was twisted away from her face and pinned at the back of the head, with the other half of her hair left draped down her back, styled into effortless loose curls.
‘This look is also known today as the demi chignon,’ he confirms. ‘A half-up half-down hairstyle or half bun. It gave her a more contemporary style pairing both classical elegance with a slight bohemian vibe.’
And while the Princess of Wales is perhaps better known for her light, honey-hued bronde locks today, on her wedding day she opted for a rich brunette. ‘Kate’s hair was a beautiful dark chocolate, espresso colour,’ notes Jay. ‘Her darker, richer shade on the wedding day was beautiful – she probably would have had a glossing or semi-permanent treatment beforehand to ensure her colour looked fresh and to give it that incredible shine.
‘These darker, block brunette tones always look incredibly glossy and are a beautiful pairing with a clean white wedding dress.’
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What Hair Accessories Did Kate Middleton Wear On Her Wedding Day?
Like all the princesses that walked down the aisle before her, Kate Middleton opted for a set of royally-approved hair accessories. The first: the Cartier Halo Tiara. The tiara was a royal family heirloom, loaned to Kate by Queen Elizabeth II and originally commissioned by the Queen’s father for his wife, the Queen Mother. ‘Her tiara was the perfect size – not being too large to take the focus away from the rest of her look,’ remembers Jay. But it was still glamorous enough for royalty; the tiara reportedly featured 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette diamonds.
And then there was the veil, which measured an impressive 16-and-a-half feet. ‘The veil was also stunning and had a beautiful, scalloped edge detail,’ remarks Jay. ‘But it did not have as much detail at the top, and the front had a fingertip length, which allowed her hair to be seen quite easily.’
Is There A Royal Rule For Bridal Hair?
Kate Middleton’s wedding ensemble made her look every bit the royal bride – but it’s said that her hairstyle did break royal protocol. Rather than her half-up half-down look, it’s said that she actually should have had a full up-do, as per tradition. But it seems that the Princess of Wales was able to reach a compromise with the royal household.
‘Royal sources tell me that the royals indicated very strongly to Kate that they would prefer her to wear her hair up for this very special occasion,’ royal reporter Ashley Pearson revealed in the documentary William & Kate: The Journey. ‘However, Kate had her heart set on wearing her hair down with long flowing curls, which is her favourite way to wear it and actually William’s favourite as well. They ended up compromising on her look.’
‘The princess’ hair pulled away from the royal tradition of the typically classic, polished, sophisticated updo chignon or twist that most royal brides wear,’ confirms Jay. ‘It still had elements of the style at the front, but with a more contemporary finish at the back featuring loose curls.’
The hairstyle, which Jay says was more in-keeping with Kate’s personal preferences, has made the Princess of Wales a standout amongst royal brides. ‘Loose, effortless curls are a signature look of Kate’s, and it made perfect sense that she incorporated a bridal look that was traditional but that still reflected her signature style,’ he tells us. ‘The bouncy blow dry, which is probably her most hallmark style, is very full bodied and glamorous, whereas loose waves are softer, more bohemian – and a popular choice for weddings where brides are looking for a more natural and romantic hair look. This flowing style pairs beautifully with vintage-inspired lace dresses (like Kate’s) and exudes effortless beauty.’
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What About Her Reception Hair?
While her main bridal look is a nationwide memory, Kate Middleton’s reception attire is lesser known (thanks to the event being held privately at Clarence House amongst friends and family). But it was here that the Princess of Wales debuted a second wedding look, complete with a new hairstyle.
‘For the wedding reception, Kate let her hair loose and sported her signature bouncy blow out style, without the half-up demi chignon,’ confirms Jay. ‘It was said that she had her hair blow dried between the ceremony and reception to create a beautiful, voluminous bouncy blow that would take her from day to night. Her hair was also styled into a side parting for more volume at the roots and it looked as though heated styling irons or curling tongs would have been used following her blow dry to give her curls more definition and bounce at the ends for a more glamorous finish.’
James Pryce was once again brought in to style Kate’s hair, creating the more casual look for what would be a more intimate celebration. Speaking to People, the stylist mentioned that William even got in on the session, saying how, ‘I wanted to show Kate the back of her hair, and I was struggling to walk with this 500-year-old mirror. [William] just said, “Let me give you a hand,” and I said, “No, no, honestly,” but he took one end and I’ve got the other and we’re shuffling along with this mirror – he’s great, he really is.’
How To Ask For Kate’s Wedding Hairstyle In The Salon
‘When visiting the salon, you can simply ask your hair stylist for a demi chignon hairstyle, or a half-up half-down where the updo is twisted into a chignon,’ recommends Jay. ‘Relay to your hairdresser that you want the ends of your hair styled into loose waves or curls to perfect the look.’
How To Get The Look At Home
If you’re planning to do your wedding hair at home, or just fancy trying the look for yourself, Jay has you covered. Below, the celebrity stylist shares his step-by-step guide for recreating Kate Middleton’s wedding hairstyle:
- Prep: To try and recreate the look at home, it’s important that you prep your hair before any heated styling with a heat defence or styling spray.
- Heat Styling: Next, curl your hair using your chosen heated styling tool or tong, working in sections to create a loose ‘S’ shaped wave.
- Soften The Curls: Once you have worked your way around your head creating all your curls, use a large tooth comb to brush out your curls for softness.
- Add Some Volume: Then, apply a texture spray at your roots and lightly tease your hair to give it volume at the crown, before creating the updo part of the style.
- Create The Chignon: Take two sections from each side of your head, twist and pin into place at the back of your head. You may want to apply a product such as a styling cream or serum before creating your twists to give them a more polished appearance with no flyaways.
- Finishing Touches: Finish by applying some serum through your ends to give added shine and then mist through a light hold hairspray to keep your style in place all day long.
