Kate Middleton Pulls Off a Surprise Hair Change Mid-Outing

The Princess of Wales switched up both her hairstyle and her outfit during an away day in Northern England

(Left) Kate Middleton at Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club on Jan. 27, 2026; (Right) Kate Middleton at Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club on Jan. 27, 2026.Credit : 

Dominic Lipinski / Kensington Palace (2)

Kate Middleton switched up her look on the fly at her latest royal engagement.

The Princess of Wales, 44, visited organizations in the North of England on Jan. 27, illuminating groups working to uplift individuals who have experienced trauma, isolation and poor mental health.

After arriving at the Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club with her long hair in loose curls and wearing a brown herringbone blazer, Princess Kate made a switch into something sportier. In addition to putting on a cinched green jacket, casual pants and boots, the royal tied her hair back into a braid.

Kate Middleton at Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club on Jan. 27, 2026.Dominic Lipinski / Kensington Palace

Princess Kate may have styled her hair herself, although she once quipped at a 2019 outing that her attempt to braid her daughter Princess Charlotte’s hair that day “didn’t really work very well.”

The royal’s next stop provided some insight into her outfit and hairstyle change. She left the rugby club for her next stop at Mind Over Mountains, a charity providing professional mental health support through therapeutic outdoor experiences. There, the royal joined a well-being walk in the Peak District, adding a green Baker boy hat with a brown scarf to her look.

The Princess of Wales embarked on the excursion led by a walk leader and wellbeing practitioner to meet past participants and learn more about Mind Over Mountains. The charity’s programming promotes walks in nature, mindfulness and community to enable people to restore and sustain their mental health and wellness.

Kate Middleton during a visit to Mind Over Mountains on Jan. 27, 2026.Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Kate frequently speaks about the peace she found in nature while undergoing treatment for cancer and during her recovery journey. The Princess of Wales announced in March 2024 that she was undergoing treatment for cancer and said in January 2025 that she is in remission.

The Princess of Wales’ latest style switch wasn’t the first time she pulled such a move during royal duty.

In September 2025, she impressively twisted her hair back into a bun without a hair elastic, clip or pin when it was time to try screen printing during an official visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton.

Kate Middleton at Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club on Jan. 27, 2026.Ian Hodgson / POOL / AFP via Getty

The Princess of Wales’ trip to the North of England marked her first solo away day of the year and her first stop was a visit to Family Action’s Children’s Trauma Therapy Service in Bradford.

Princess Kate is patron of the organization working across England, Wales, and the Isle of Man to protect children and support adults, working with families that have experienced adversity, abuse and traumatic bereavement.

Kate stepped out there with her hair down and wearing the all-brown outfit, and she continued with that combination when she arrived at the Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club.

Kate Middleton at Family Action’s Children’s Trauma Therapy Service on Jan. 27, 2026.Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

She visited the rugby hub in Wakefield to hear about how its outreach programs are uniting generations and supporting individuals experiencing isolation in the community, and a particular program there is connected to another one of her patronages.

Princess Kate is patron of the Rugby Football League, which launched the RFL Community Trust in 2024 to accelerate positive social impact in local communities.

Kate Middleton at Wakefield Trinity Rugby League club on Jan. 27, 2026.Ian Hodgson – WPA Pool/Getty

There, she checked out an In Touch session designed to tackle social isolation among the elderly, met young people from the Inspiring Futures program supporting youth at risk of anti-social behavior and crime through goal setting and hit the pitch for a skills session with girls from Wakefield’s Champion Schools competition.