The Princess of Wales has long understood how powerful fashion can be in public life, using carefully chosen outfits to convey messages of unity, support and confidence.
During her latest visit to Northern Ireland, however, Kate showed that diplomatic symbolism is not limited to clothing. At 44, she appeared alongside the Prince of Wales in Belfast, with her hairstyle offering its own subtle nod to the region.
The future Queen styled her bronde hair into a Celtic knot, a thoughtful detail that celebrity hairstylist Tess Boyle said reflected Kate’s attention to even the smallest elements of her appearance.
“What I admire about Kate is the care she appears to give to every detail, and her hair is clearly part of that consideration,” Ms Boyle, a senior stylist at Jo Hansford, told Our News Outlet.
The look, she added, demonstrated how a hairstyle can communicate a message in an understated and sophisticated way.
Kate travelled to south Belfast with Prince William, 44, last week for several engagements connected to the future King’s Homewards initiative.
Her outfit already paid tribute to Northern Ireland, pairing an ivory blouse with ruffled detailing and a green checked skirt, alongside coordinating accessories. But the sartorial reference to the host country continued in her beauty look.
Kate wore her hair half up and half down, with a Celtic knot incorporated into the style. Ms Boyle described the gesture as beautiful and particularly appropriate given the princess’s honorary position as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
At the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in March, the princess wore her long hair in a carefully braided and pinned updo, offering an elegant reference to Irish folklore.
The future Queen’s Celtic knot, worked into her bronde hair, provided a subtle tribute to Northern Ireland’s heritage and highlighted her eye for meaningful detail.
“A Celtic knot is a particularly graceful reference to Irish heritage, with its associations with loyalty, unity and enduring bonds,” Ms Boyle said. She also praised the precision of Kate’s styling.
Although the woven design contained plenty of intricate detail, it retained a soft, polished quality instead of appearing rigid or overly elaborate. That balance, Ms Boyle noted, is something Kate consistently achieves.
A similar approach was evident when the Princess of Wales attended the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in March.
Her Cartier shamrock brooch, lent to her by the regiment, was worn with sparkling emerald earrings and a jade pillbox hat. The accessories created a polished example of diplomatic dressing, while her hairstyle carried a quieter cultural reference.
Kate’s long hair was braided before being pinned into an elegant updo. Stylist Leanne Jones said the carefully arranged look appeared to contain an element of subtle storytelling.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, Ms Jones suggested that, like the more recent Celtic knot, the braid could be read as a tribute to Irish heritage and Celtic folklore.
“The braided sections were drawn into a neat knot, which gives the style a particularly refined finish,” she said, adding that the look seemed to carry a quiet narrative.
Ms Jones explained that traditional hairstyles frequently used elaborate plaits to express identity and status, making Kate’s carefully constructed chignon a considered choice.
At the 2025 St Patrick’s Day parade, Kate’s knotted updo prompted comparisons with the Celtic Trinity Knot.
The hairstyle also recalled the knotted updo Kate chose for her return to the regiment’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in 2025, shortly after announcing that her cancer was in remission.
The twisted bun drew comparisons with the Celtic Trinity Knot, also known as the Triquetra – an ancient Irish symbol that represents eternity and unity.
‘Whether she chose it for its meaning or simply because she liked the look, I think it is a lovely example of how hair can make a statement without being too obvious,’ Ms Boyle told Our News Outlet.
‘What I find interesting is how she changes her hair depending on the occasion. For more formal engagements, she often wears it up in a beautiful, classic style, whereas for more relaxed occasions she tends to go for those lovely soft waves we all associate with her,’ the expert continued.
Sometimes, Kate also appears to send more personal messages by making small changes to hair, Ms Boyle noted, highlighting the princess’s lighter honey-blonde first seen in 2024.
Kate debuted the new colour during a joint engagement with Prince William at the Natural History Museum last September – a year after she confirmed she had completed her chemotherapy treatment in a moving video.
The visit marked Kate’s return to royal duties after the summer holidays and the new hair colour was a dramatic departure from the deep chestnut hue typically associated with Kate.
But was there more to the transformation than a seasonal refresh? Ms Boyle seems to think so as she noted her clients typically want a change when they are entering a new chapter in their lives.
Sometimes, Kate also appears to send more personal messages by making small changes to hair, Ms Boyle noted, highlighting the princess’ lighter honey-blonde first seen in 2024
At the time, the Prince and Princess had just announced they were moving into Forest Lodge, their new forever home, after Kate’s cancer recovery.
As the couple announced a move to Forest Lodge, their new forever home, her new hair colour was thought to symbolise renewal and a fresh start, particularly after recovering from her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy.
‘I always think there is something about going a little lighter with your hair that makes you feel refreshed,’ she explained. ‘We see it in the salon all the time.
‘Clients often want a change when they are entering a new chapter in their lives, and it does not necessarily have to be anything dramatic.
‘Of course, we do not know whether Kate saw it as a fresh start herself, but I can certainly understand why people made that connection,’ she added.
If it seems like Kate has only just discovered a knack for diplomatic hairdressing, consider her bridal do that broke a 350-year royal tradition.
Instead of a conventional knot, Kate wore her hair down in a move that some felt signalled the princess’s legacy.
Her ‘down do’ suggested that Princess Kate would be a modern and less formal royal than her predecessors – but one only had to appreciate the weight of her diamond tiara – loaned by the late Queen – to appreciate this would not be at the cost of her duty.
