“Kate’s hair! Wow!”: Princess Catherine makes another public appearance, sparking mixed reactions for her hair

In an emotional moment, Catherine Middleton, who was last seen in September 2024 attending a church service, hugged a young photographer suffering from cancer during their engagement at Windsor Castle on October 2, 2024. The encounter caused fans to notice the striking difference in their hair, sparking discussions online.

Liz Hatton, 16, who is battling a rare and aggressive tumour, was pictured with short hair. She smiled as she posed for a photo with the princess and Prince William, alongside her family, who accompanied her.

Liz and Catherine embraced each other affectionately in a photo posted online, highlighting the noticeable difference in their hair, despite the fact that they both share something in common: their battle with cancer. The interaction marked their first photographed public engagement since resuming royal duties.

While Princess Catherine Middleton appeared to offer her support to the photographer, one comment took a different tone, saying : “A hug that says ‘look at my healthy, dyed hair’ says a lot. Just saying 🤔.”

Many of these comments were critical and probing, with one skeptical observer asking : “How come Catherine didn’t lose any hair after chemo?” and another cynically noting : “How come all the real cancer patients have no hair on their heads and yours is just getting longer?”

One even asked : “Why is her head so big?” Other comments on Catherine’s recent appearance were a mix of admiration for her hair and her beauty.

One fan said : “Catherine looks stunning 😍” while another was in awe, writing : “Kate’s hair! Wow!” Others couldn’t help but wonder : “Has Kate gotten extensions? OMG her hair has grown.”

Another admirer expressed : “Catherine it’s great to see you so healthy and beautiful ❤️,” while a similar comment noted : ” Her hair is so pretty but more than that I’m glad to see her out and about ❤️.”

Read also: Kate Middleton and Prince William are “living in hell” – What the princess’s friend thinks about her health

However, the highly-reacted appearance is unusual for Catherine, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight this year. The Palace has previously stated that it is currently not certain whether the princess is cancer-free, even after completing her chemotherapy treatment.

In any case, Catherine was glad to have met Liz, as she and William wrote in a post on Instagram: “A pleasure to meet Liz today in Windsor. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us. ❤️ W&C.”

Prince William met Liz through her work with the London Air Ambulance Charity, and gave her the opportunity to photograph an investiture at Windsor Castle, which included cyclist Mark Cavendish and former footballer Ally McCoist.

Following the photocall, the royal couple held a private meeting with Liz and her family. Liz gushed about the meeting on her Instagram stories: “Such lovely, genuine and kind people, I’m so delighted that my family and I have had this experience.”

While Catherine’s appearance and interaction with Liz were highly significant, it was clear that her hair was the focus of much discussion on the Internet. Fans have speculated whether Catherine’s hair had extensions, and their suspicions may be valid.

Lisa Richards, from the New York salon 45 Rockefeller Plaza and founder of the RPZL team, confirmed that the Princess of Wales has had extensions from her brand. However, it remains unclear when, as Catherine has never addressed the issue.

Stylists have also weighed in on Catherine’s signature hair, which remains a deep brunette and is usually styled just above the shoulders with long layers and sleek waves.

This timeless look proves that a classic hairstyle can be just as glamorous, and arguably more regal than constantly changing your look.

Spoke & Weal’s master stylist and cutting director Lindsay Victoria praised the princess’s hair: “The common denominator throughout Kate’s style years is shiny, healthy, voluminous hair.”

Lauren Bailey-Chaidez, owner of Los Angeles-based salon Feverfew, also chimed in : “Kate is a great example of timeless beauty. Classic cuts never go out of style. Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s boring.”

Although her presence at Windsor Castle marked her first photographed royal engagement since finishing chemotherapy, it was not her first public appearance. As we previously reported, after weeks of absence, Catherine returned to the public eye in September 2024, attending a church service alongside William.

The princess made her long-awaited return to the public eye after beating chemotherapy. Kate, 42, was seen attending a Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk church, located near Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which sparked mixed reactions among observers.

Accompanied by William, Catherine was seen sitting in the passenger seat of his car. She offered a brief but warm smile as the prince dutifully drove to the service. Dressed in her signature style, the beloved Princess of Wales looked lovely in a dark brown Suffolk felt hat decorated with feathers.

His smart brown tartan coat made for a stylish but understated entrance. William, equally dapper, opted for a smart dark suit for the occasion. Also in attendance were King Charles and Queen Camilla, who arrived separately in their own vehicles.

As news of Catherine’s public appearance spread , social media was flooded with reactions. Some users were perplexed. ” She doesn’t look like her,” one user posted sceptically. Another replied : “She doesn’t look like Kate ,” and a third wrote : “She doesn’t even look like her.”

Another person recalled seeing her at Wimbledon not long ago, confidently noting : “She looked great at the Tennis a few weeks ago!!!” Amid the skepticism, Catherine received an avalanche of positive messages. One admirer applauded her for making time for her faith, writing : “I love that she goes to church and thinks about her soul too.”

Another admirer praised her resilience: “Strength and grace in every step.” And heartfelt encouragement flowed, with one user writing : “Good for you Kate, happy for your beautiful soul.” Comments of joy and relief continued : “So happy for her” and “Glad she’s feeling better.” Despite the mixed reactions, Catherine’s strength has clearly inspired many.

Following her recent return to public life, the Princess of Wales has wasted no time in resuming her royal duties and getting back to what she is passionate about: early childhood development.

Her first public engagement, which appeared in the Court Circular, was a meeting at Windsor Castle. The entry, published by The Telegraph , read : “The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron of the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, has this afternoon held an Early Childhood Meeting at Windsor Castle.”

Together with her dedicated team from the Early Years Centre and the staff at Kensington Palace, she spoke about the project that interests her most.

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It was a quiet but powerful step as he returned to his post with “a handful” of commitments in the coming months. It was the first official record of his activities this year since he stepped back from public life to undergo major abdominal surgery and cancer treatment.

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