Liz Jones, writing in You Magazine for the Daily Mail, said the Princess of Wales’s hair looks noticeably lighter after recent public appearances, writing that the change has prompted close scrutiny from observers.
Jones pointed to two recent sightings: a drive to a church near Balmoral at the end of August and an official visit with the Prince of Wales to the Natural History Museum in London earlier this month. In her column, published 4 September 2025 and updated 5 September, Jones described the tone as a "buttery" or "ash" shade and said the hair looked less brassy and curlier than in previous photos. She added that the parting appeared slightly off centre and that the princess appeared "more modern" and "glowing."
Jones wrote that the lighter shade could help conceal grey hairs and noted, without linking it directly to the princess, that a sudden onset of grey can sometimes follow chemotherapy. The column did not cite comment from royal aides or Kensington Palace about any change in hair colour or style.
The piece also described the public reaction to the images, saying that observers had zoomed and scrutinised photos and that the appearance had generated widespread attention online. The columnist used the phrase "broke the internet" to characterise the volume of attention, and said the princess’s choice of footwear — £199 flats by Pretty Ballerinas, according to Jones — was noticed alongside the new look.
Royal appearances and style changes often attract media and public commentary, and Jones’s column is the latest in a long history of coverage focusing on the wardrobe and grooming choices of senior members of the royal family. The column frames the observed hair change as a stylistic shift rather than reporting any official announcement.
The princess and the prince continue to carry out public engagements, which the columnist and many observers say provide frequent opportunities for close public and media scrutiny of their appearance and presentation.