The Princess of Wales debuted her new bronde hair transformation on Saturday as she participated in a walkabout outside Windsor Castle, following the heartbreaking death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th. She and her husband, Prince William, reunited with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for a surprise royal outing.
In her first royal duty as the Princess of Wales, Catherine maintained a brave face as she greeted emotional royal fans and paused to observe touching floral tributes. Although they adhered strictly to royal protocol, dressing in traditional all-black mourning attire, Catherine found subtle ways to pay a personal tribute to the late monarch through her clothing choices.
During the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth, the mother of three was photographed wearing a chic long-sleeved black dress and suede heels. Her look was completed with a gently tousled hairstyle that accentuated her noticeably lighter locks. It seemed Catherine had traded her usual raven tresses for a softer brunette shade with honey highlights. Just last month, the royal was photographed at the Commonwealth Games sporting much darker chestnut hair, enriched with chocolate lowlights.
Approximately 2,000 mourners gathered in London’s Westminster Abbey to attend the ceremony. If you were one of the over 4 billion people worldwide who watched the state funeral of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, you may have witnessed several moments now banned from future broadcasts. These moments will never be seen again.
For the solemn occasion, Princess Catherine wore her Bahrain Pearl and Diamond drop earrings, crafted from two of seven pearls gifted to then-Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at their wedding by the Sheikh of Bahrain. Around her collar, she donned the Queen’s four-row Japanese Pearl choker, a piece she had previously worn at the celebration of Elizabeth and Philip’s 70th anniversary in 2017 and famously worn by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
The banned footage includes shots of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie weeping during the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son and his wife, often referred to as the late monarch’s favorite daughter-in-law, were seated in the front pew, visibly emotional throughout the service. Other members of the royal family, including Princess Anne’s daughter Zara and Prince Andrew’s daughter Princess Eugenie, were also seen upset during the service—footage that will no longer be broadcast.
Another moment reportedly excluded from future broadcasts is a shot of Prince George, Prince William’s eldest son, seen wiping and scratching his nose during the ceremony. The second in line to the British throne’s subtle gesture won’t be seen on television again.
In a video released on March 22nd, filmed by BBC Studios, it was announced that Catherine had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer following tests conducted after a planned abdominal surgery in January. Nine months later, the Princess of Wales shared a new, more personal video, featuring unpublished images of her family. In this message, she revealed that she had finished her cancer treatment, news that brought immense relief and joy to her followers.
It has been confirmed that Catherine has retained her natural hair throughout her treatment. This is attributed to the type of chemotherapy she received. Hair loss during chemotherapy depends on several factors, including the type of drug used, the dosage, and the patient’s response. Some treatments, such as low-dose cisplatin chemotherapy, are less likely to cause hair loss. Catherine’s treatment likely included the use of a cooling helmet during sessions, which decreases blood flow to the scalp and reduces the amount of medication reaching the hair follicles.
Her announcement of completing chemotherapy is not only a cause for celebration but also a message of hope to others facing similar battles. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often take additional medications to manage side effects. Factors that affect the success of cancer treatment include the type of cancer, how early it was treated, the patient’s age, and whether they have any other health conditions.
