The Princess of Wales has sparked buzz recently with her newly-dyed blonde hair but appeared to change her style yet again at a rugby match on Saturday evening.

Earlier this week, Kate, alongside her husband Prince William, both 43, visited the Natural History Museum in London, marking their return to official duties after their summertime retreat.

During the visit, the Princess was spotted with a much blonder hairstyle, likely due in part to sun exposure while vacationing and sailing around the Greek islands on the Wales’ superyacht.

However, on Saturday night at the Brighton & Hove Albion stadium, where she supported England’s Red Roses, Kate seemed to be experimenting with another hair transformation.

Her tresses once again appeared to be closer to her usual, darker shade of brunette, opting for a new half-up, half-down hairstyle. 

Royal followers expressed their delight at the change, with one person commenting on social media: ‘The Princess of Wales’ hair looks stunning today!’, and another speculating about a potential new hair change, writing: ‘The most famous brunette on the planet!’

On Reddit, another wrote: ‘Kate at the rugby no longer light blonde,’ and one more added: ‘It looks completely different.’ 

Nonetheless, hair stylists told the Daily Mail that the Princess appears to have retained the same blonde hue from before but chose a ‘smart and practical’ style change, making it seem much darker.

Adem Oygur, celebrity hairstylist said: ‘It’s very normal for hair to look different depending on lighting and styling, and that’s almost certainly the case here. 

‘At the Natural History Museum, Kate wore her hair down, with soft waves that caught the light and made her blonde highlights really shine. 

‘At the rugby, she opted for a sleeker, pulled-back style, and the stadium lighting was much dimmer and cooler in tone. Both those factors naturally make hair appear a little darker and more uniform in colour.’

After the match, the Princess met teams from both England and Australia, visiting their locker rooms to congratulate them on the match. 

As Adem noted, her hair looked much more blonde again once she stood under the brighter lights.  

He continued: ‘It doesn’t look like she’s suddenly dyed it, you can even see in the post-match photos, under brighter lights, her golden tones are still very much there. 

‘It’s more about context: indoor versus outdoor light, flash photography, and how the hair is styled.

‘As for why she chose this look, it’s a smart and practical switch. A pulled-back style is perfect for a high-energy evening event like the rugby: chic, polished, but also comfortable and fuss-free in a crowded stadium. 

‘Earlier in the week at the museum, she went for a softer, more relaxed style that complemented the setting and her outfit beautifully.

‘It just shows her versatility; she can shift from radiant, flowing glamour to sleek, sporty elegance with ease, while always looking polished and appropriate for the occasion.’

However, Veronica Wysocka at Hershesons thought that Kate may have ‘slightly toned down’ the blonde to return to a more brunette shade at the match. 

Veronica agreed that the half-up, half-down style made for a ‘very chic’ display, that was ‘perfect’ for the occasion as it didn’t feel ‘too formal’.  

‘It looks like the hair could have been slightly toned down. It’s a common practice and adjustments like this are often made after big colour changes,’ she told the Daily Mail. 

‘Her hair is also put up so we mainly see her face frame being more brunette while the ends are still quite bright. So it can also look different based on that!

‘Of course different lighting can also cause the colour looking darker or lighter as well as styling it. This is what majority of colourists will always stress to their clients- hair colour is a multidimensional creation and can vary depending on different styles/ lighting and even with time.’

For the most part, Kate’s hair hasn’t changed all that much since she first met Prince William, with the bouncy blowout being her preferred style. 

However, Kate has had practice with fringes in the past (particularly when change is afoot) and seems to get them cut every few years.

Even before becoming a royal, she showcased her signature style – dark glossy, bouncy locks with a side-swept fringe. 

On Thursday, however, the Princess of Wales looked stunning as she joined William on a visit to the Natural History Museum in London – debuting her new blonde shade. 

Kate, who studied art history at university and has been patron of the attraction since 2013, was seen with her newly blonde locks on display after spending a summer in the sun. 

The Prince of Wales also showed a hint of tan during their day out in the capital following their traditional break. 

Kate, who had apparently dyed her brunette locks a few shades lighter, looked stylish in a fitted tweed ‘Hacket’ blazer from Ralph Lauren, paired with a white Boyfriend Shirt from sustainable British brand With Nothing Underneath, smart dark green tailored trousers and £199 tassel loafers from Pretty Ballerinas. 

Alongside gentle waves in her hair, the princess opted for a natural sweep of make-up and added her £495 alphabet necklace from Daniella Draper – which features the initials of her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis – as well as Princess Diana’s sapphire engagement ring and £850 Kiki McDonough pear drop earrings.

She had appeared to debut the new look as she attended the traditional Sunday service at Crathie Kirk during the Wales’s stay in Balmoral over the summer break. 

The royal mother-of-three was in the passenger seat as William drove to the service, while their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were in the backseat. 

The princess appeared to have coloured her hair a few shades lighter as her cascading tresses looked more blonde than ever before. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail previously, experts claimed that the mother-of-three’s blonder locks may also be the result of spending more time in the sun than usual. 

Sarah Gadsdon, a freelance stylist, told the Daily Mail: ‘After a sun-soaked holiday in Greece, Kate returned not only with a refreshed spirit but also with naturally lightened hair. 

‘The combination of sea air, sunshine, and saltwater had gently lifted her hair to a softer shade – creating the perfect starting point for her next salon visit.’

Sarah believes that Kate’s naturally lightened hair led her hairdresser to ‘see an opportunity’ to go a few shades blonder – as it required ‘less chemical processing’ to do so. 

On a trip to Tobermory back in April, Kate was also seen with the lighter look, instead of her usual dark brunette.  

Sarah added: ‘As Kate embraces the natural changes that come with aging, such as the increasing presence of grey strands, she’s made a thoughtful shift in her hair colour strategy. 

‘Rather than covering greys with darker dyes – which often require more frequent maintenance- she’s opted for a lighter, blended tone. This approach not only gives her hair a softer, more natural appearance but also helps camouflage greys in a subtle, low-maintenance way.

‘Thanks to her time in the Greek sun, Kate has found a new, more effortless hair colour that flatters her features, respects the health of her hair, and celebrates the beauty of aging with confidence.’

This year, the Wales family were reported to have spent time sailing around the Greek islands during their summer break in July.

At the time, the royals were said to have headed south in the Ionian sea from Kefalonia, to another island, Zakynthos and were said to have borrowed a $40million superyacht called Almax for their trip.

After dropping anchor some distance from shore, it was then said Prince George had fancied something off the menu, though sources have remained tight-lipped about details. 

A source said at the time: ‘George required a specific dietary item which led to the tender going ashore in Zakynthos to purchase it. Nothing extravagant, just something particular.’ 

A week beforehand, the Daily Mail revealed that a retired civil servant spotted some of the royal party – Kate, Charlotte and Louis – on their superyacht off the coast of Ithaca, a tiny island 25 minutes by ferry from Kefalonia.

Penelope Likoudi, 64, was swimming in secluded Mavrouna Bay when she came within 30 metres (100ft) of the yacht.

‘Kate was standing on the top level with Charlotte and Louis,’ she said. ‘There was an older lady next to them, possibly Kate’s mother, but I wasn’t able to see her well.

‘I literally shivered with excitement. I was shocked, I couldn’t believe it. Now I wish I’d called out hello to them. But I didn’t, I got starstruck and couldn’t get the words out.

‘There was no sign of William or George though.’

The Daily Mail has learned that not once during the sailing trip did the royals set foot on any of the islands.

It is thought to have been considered but quickly ruled out because of security concerns. Instead the royals made good use of a platform that transforms the stern hatch into a private beach area, where they swam and played on inflatables and paddleboards.

It was rumoured at the time that the Prince and Princess of Wales had been joined by Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton – although this has not been confirmed. 

The couple were reported to have touched down in a private jet, before being whisked away in a convoy of vehicles with tinted windows.