Princess Diana‘s hairstylist is celebrating Kate Middleton‘s blonde ambition
After the 43-year-old debuted her lightest hairstyle yet, Sam McKnight, who served as Diana’s personal stylist until her 1997 death, wasted no time brushing off Kate’s haters.
“I am shocked, horrified, and dismayed by all the nasty comments about the Princess of Wales today,” he wrote on Instagram Sept. 4. “A woman’s hair is very personal to her, it’s armour, defence, confidence and so much more.”
Kate had showcased her new caramel blonde ‘do in public earlier that day, wearing her hair in loose waves while visiting the newly renovated gardens at the Natural History Museum in London with husband Prince William. She paired the look with a neutral-toned tweed blazer, white button-down shirt, black pants and khaki-brown flats.
The princess—who shares kids Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, with the Prince of Wales—had previously debuted a lighter hairstyle in late August, as she and her family traveled to a church service at Crathie Kirk, near the royal residence of Balmoral in Scotland.
But while her most recent color is a major change for the natural brunette, she has been gradually lightening her hair over this past year. And she is not the only Middleton to showcase a new ‘do. Her sister Pippa Middleton debuted a blunter, shorter and lighter brunette style during a rare appearance at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in July.
It has even been a summer of change for the whole royal family as Princess Anne debuted a new style for the first time in five decades in an official portrait released ahead of her 75th birthday.
Read on to see more head-turning celebrity hair transformations over the years…
Sami Sheen
The daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards shared her at-home hair dying journey, including its many missteps, on TikTok and raved about the results.
“I’ve been wanting to do this to my hair for years now,” she said, “and I’m so happy that I finally did it.”
Carrie Underwood
Trading in her signature golden locks, the country music star wrote on Instagram in August 2025, “Well, the last time I saw my natural hair color, I was probably about 12 years old, but I thought it might be time to give it a second chance.”
Jason Momoa
In July 2025, the actor shaved off his beard for the first time in six years to film Dune: Part Three, which required him to rock a clean shaven look to reprise his role of Duncan Idaho.
Kelly Clarkson
The American Idol winner debuted a shorter hairdo in a July 2025 The Voice promo, trading her signature blonde waves for a shorter, darker bob style.
Chris Pratt
The actor debuted a bearded look, which he sports on season two of The Terminal List, in June 2025.
Finn Wolfhard
The Stranger Things star changed up his trademark shaggy hairstyle in May 2025 by debuting a buzzcut at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, Japan.
Sebastian Stan
The Marvel actor said goodbye to Bucky Barnes’ signature long hair in April 2025, showing off a shaved head at the Los Angeles premiere of Thunderbolts*.
JoJo Siwa
In March 2025, the “Karma” singer debuted her rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Emily Ratajkowski
In a March 2025 TikTok video, the model called this ‘do with shaggy bangs the “worst haircut of my life.”
Gypsy Rose Blanchard
The Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockupstar debuted a short bob in March 2025, more than two months after giving birth to her and fiancé Ken Urker‘s first child, daughter Aurora Urker.
Whitney Rose
The formerly blond Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star debuted a red bob on Watch What Happens Live in January 2025.
Hailey Bieber
The model debuted lighter locks in September 2024, a month after giving birth to her and Justin Bieber‘s first baby, son Jack Blues Bieber.
Lily Collins
The Emily in Paris star debuted her dramatic transformation at the world premiere of her new horror movie, MAXXXINE, in June 2024.
“Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around,” Lily told Vogue. “This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now.”
Katie Holmes
While attending Chanel’s Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner in June 2024, Katie debuted a subtle, yet striking transformation of rich caramel balayage highlights that were blended throughout her brunette tresses.
Kylie Jenner
The Kardashians star debuted a platinum blonde look and a bob haircut after rocking waist-length strands for quite some time.
“Did someone say they missed king kylie,” Kylie teased in the caption of her June 8 Instagram post, to which her sister Khloe Kardashian cheekily replied, “I did! I did!!!!!!”
Lisa Rinna
The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.
Priyanka Chopra
The Heads of State star debuted a drastic haircut—a shoulder-grazing bob—while attending a Bulgari event in Rome i May 2024.
Jessica Biel
In May 2024, the actress chopped her hair into a bob that many fans on social media said reminded them of one of the looks she sported as Mary Camden on the ’90s series 7th Heaven.
Megan Fox
The Transformers actress returned to her dark brown tresses and debuted a sassy bob in May 2024, a month after she dyed her hair blue to enter what she dubbed her “Jedi era.”
Dannielynn Birkhead
At age 17, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle overnight during 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, which she attended with dad Larry Birkhead.
Demi Lovato
The singer debuted a lighter, shorter ‘do in April 2024.
Kelly Osbourne
The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.
Kim Kardashian
Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum ‘do in April 2024.
Rihanna
The Fenty Beauty founder debuted a bright blonde hair transformation April 17 while celebrating her latest Fenty x Puma collection in London.
Delilah Belle Hamlin
The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.
Megan Fox
The Jennifer’s Body star traded in her bubblegum pink tresses for a baby blue bob, which she debuted April 2.
Zendaya
Less than a month afer chopping her hair into a long bob, Zendaya debuted a honey blonde transformation at the Challengers premiere March 26.
Elle Fanning
The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.
Rachel McAdams
The Mean Girls alum swapped out her signature blonde hair for a dark brunette transformation on March 18.
Bre Tiesi
The Selling Sunset star looked completely unrecognizable after debuting a dramatic blonde transformation March 16.
