Princess Kate's new curtain bangs signal autumn

Princess Kate’s long brunette hair is central to her signature style, so when she updates her cut or colour – even slightly – the world takes note.

Her look yesterday is a perfect case in point: visiting the charity HMP High Down in Sutton, the Princess of Wales wore her hair in voluminous cascading curls (so far, so Kate), with grown-out curtain bangs framing her face (a clear departure from her usual one-length silhouette).

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The perfect autumnal update, her elegant look oozed iconic Farrah Fawcett energy – the ’70s being a decade that is regularly referenced in style at this time of year, given how the warm and earthy tones synonymous with the era align with the season’s natural palette.

Curtain bangs – a long fringe that’s styled in a middle-part to create a ‘curtain’ effect, and softly blended into the rest of one’s hair – is a classic cut for a low-commitment style update. Compared to a shorter, more structured fringe, it can complement different hair lengths and types.

As celebrity hairstylist Nicky Clarke told us back in 2021, when the cut first went viral online, “curtain bangs are incredibly versatile, working on any length of hair, and allow the wearer to really take ownership of their look, pairing well with edgy rock-chick looks or more pared-back, off-duty styles”. And, as Kate proves, chic tailoring.

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Of course, curtain bangs might not appeal to all, and there is a fringe to suit everyone. Whether blunt and brow-grazing, short and sweet, light and layered, there’s bound to be a version that appeals to you (and complements your face shape, of course) in our inspirational guide to the best A-list fringes. Or, if Kate’s signature style speaks to you more, here’s how to achieve the Princess of Wales’ signature bouncy blow-dry.