With four decades of mastering her updo under her belt, the Princess Royal has not been one to experiment with her hair.
So fans might struggle to recognise a young Princess Anne with golden hair. Before her locks darkened to the soft brunette we're accustomed to seeing, the royal had naturally bright blonde hair, which she styled into a deep parting with bouncy curls like her mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Looking smart in a belted tan coat, Anne patiently waited with her brother Prince Charles as their mother had a conversation at Smith's Lawn in Windsor Great Park in 1957. Aged six at the time, the bouncy blonde curls were Anne's go-to hairstyle, as she sported the same look to watch her father, Prince Philip, play in a polo match later that month.
© Getty ImagesBy 1960, the lighter tones had turned a rich bronde colour, and she had embraced her brunette mane by 1964, which she continued wearing down, but in a longer bob. Once her hair grew past her shoulders, Anne very rarely wore it down, instead choosing practical updos for almost every occasion.
Anne's strict hairstyle
Speaking of the royal's strict beauty regimen, Suzie McGill, Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International, who has over 20 years of experience as a hair educator, told HELLO!: "Princess Anne’s hairstyle is extremely practical – perfect for her everyday royal duties. It ensures all flyaways and frizz are kept at bay and her hair is always off her face. It looks incredibly elegant and is the perfect style to keep her tiaras, hats, and fascinators in place all day long.
© Getty ImagesWhile many choose to switch up their look in different decades of their life, Anne continues to remain loyal to her chignon – which is actually a clever anti-ageing hack.
"For women in their 70s, a soft, loose updo is a great style as it provides a flattering and lifted appearance – think a low bun at the nape of the neck with pieces of hair left out around the face to help face frame and add further softness to the look.
"However, wearing the hair down or in a half-up, half-down can also be incredibly flattering. Styling longer hair in loose waves is a great way to add face-framing movement and give the hair a youthful appearance," Suzie concluded.
Blonde royals
The Princess is not the only royal to have embraced blonde hair. From Princess Diana to Sophie Wessex, Lady Amelia Windsor and even the Princess of Wales, there are a host of royals who revel in their blonde moments.
Kate famously switched up her brunette hair for lighter locks in 2025, which she credited to time in the sunshine.
© GettyHairstylist Daniel Galvin Jr MBE hailed her a "natural beauty chameleon" at the time, telling HELLO!: "It's quite a contrast to her former brunette locks, which is, of course, part of her trademark. People say 'Don't go lighter in the winter,' but I don't go by instructions in a book or follow manuals; I go against the grain."
© Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Peter Phillips' bride, Harriet Sperling, is the latest blonde to join the royal family. She styled her 'old money' blonde hair into a sleek updo for her timeless beauty look as she got married in the Cotswolds on 6 June.
