Kate Middleton debuts her longest hair yet and channels real life fairytale glamour at the 2026 BAFTAs
The Princess of Wales has made her appearance at the 2026 BAFTA awards for the first time in more than two years, and it’s not just her gorgeous pink gown that has got every talking, it’s her hair. Debuting her longest locks yet, styled in soft, cascading curls, Kate has gone full fairytale glamour, with many royal fans comparing her look to a real-life Disney princess.
The glossy waves immediately drew parallels to Rapunzel, thanks to their length, shine and bounce. Styled with the perfect amount of volume, the hair is a welcome change from Kate’s usual polished blow-dry.
Teamed with a re-worn pink and cream Gucci gown, and a burgundy velvet Prada clutch bag, Kate has fully transformed herself for the evening. It’s not the first time Kate has embraced princess-coded fashion, but this might be her most literal transformation yet.
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If there was ever proof that longer, softer, and more romantic curls are making a comeback, then this iconic BAFTA moment might just be it.
We previously spoke with hair expert and award-winning hairdresser Adem Oygur, of Adem London, on how to achieve Kate’s princess curls. Adem explained, “Kate Middleton’s signature bouncy curls are a masterclass in classic, high-gloss glamour with a modern edge. Recreating this look requires a focus on structure, volume, and long-lasting movement and it’s all built on healthy, well-prepped hair,”
He suggest that using a volumising shampoo and lightweight conditioner that doesn’t weigh the hair down is key to prepping the ahir for curls. “Towel-dry gently and apply a root-lifting spray or mousse – something like a heat-activated volumiser works best for fine to medium textures. Distribute it evenly using a wide-tooth comb to ensure lift without stiffness.”
Adem added, “Keep each curl uniform in direction for a cohesive wave pattern. Wrap each section around the tong and hold for approximately 8–10 seconds, then immediately pin it in place to cool. This step is critical—cooling the curls in shape helps ‘memorise’ the curl pattern for longer-lasting hold and bounce.”
Kate’s rumoured go-to shampoo is actually the Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin Riche High Nutrition Rich Shampoo, a hydrating shampoo that features Kérastase’s signature Irisome Complex, which helps nourish, cleanse, and reduce the appearance of damage on the hair while also protecting against dryness. We’d suggest pairing this with a light conditioner such as the Ouai Fine Hair Conditioner.
These prep the hair to effectively hold curls, and we’d recommend the ghd Curve Creative Curl Wand Tapered to achieve Kate’s effortlessly, cascading waves.
