Royal family recap: Prince William and Princess Kate reappear, Queen Camilla bundles into a phone box, and more

Good afternoon, royal fans! 

It's Katie Daly. I'm taking over from the lovely Matt to bring you an afternoon of royal news.

Stay tuned...

Kate debuted a stunning new look at the Natural History Museum in London earlier today - and looked amazing! The 43-year-old princess turned heads with her noticeably lighter hair, a change from her usual chocolate brown locks. Her hair, now a rich golden hue, was styled in tighter, springier curls that highlighted the new colour.

© Getty

Melanie Macleod, Deputy Beauty and Lifestyle Editor at HELLO!, describes the look as the epitome of "princess hair," evoking images of long, voluminous curls often associated with fairy-tale royalty. The style is also reminiscent of Kate's younger years. We're obsessed!

The Princess of Wales rocked a new outfit to accompany her golden mane. 

© GC Images

She chose a tailored tweed blazer with a single-breasted design, structured shoulders, and a waist-skimming fit. Underneath, she wore a pristine white shirt with a sharp collar, tucked into a pair of black cigarette trousers with a belt.

She completed the look with an unexpected choice of footwear: brown suede loafers. However, the most meaningful part of her outfit was a gold charm necklace with the letters 'G', 'C', and 'L'—a touching tribute to her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. This isn't the first time she's worn a similar tribute; she also wore a Daniella Draper necklace with her children's initials during a royal tour of Scotland in 2021.

Queen Camilla got stuck into the action at a playground during her visit to a school today.

© Getty

She watched a year two pupil from Dulwich Village Infants' School slide down a slide designed by Harold Offeh during her visit to Dulwich Picture Gallery, and what a cool slide it was! 

The moment came after the royal was shown around the newly opened Artplay Pavilion and joined eight pupils from Dulwich Village Infants' School inside the original telephone box.

As Camilla arrived to be greeted by Simon Duckworth, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Southwark, for her visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, we could only focus on one thing - her outfit!

© Getty Images

The royal sported a lovely black and white printed dress with a collared neckline and floaty skirt. The long-sleeved number was paired with suede slip-on heels, a matching leather handbag, and pearl drop earrings.

Patron of the Natural History Museum, Kate, and Prince William, were seen getting stuck right in as they met a group of children today. 

© Getty

The royal couple met children and young people taking part in learning programmes that connect with nature and boost biodiversity in urban areas. 

Here, Kate and William joined school children from Lewisham who took part in a pond dipping session, before meeting students from Manchester who have been creating new habitats on their school grounds through the National Education Nature Park programme.  

We loved Kate's look from today - and did you see her pretty necklace?

© GC Images

In a touching tribute to her children, Kate wore a gold necklace with charms of their initials: 'G' for Prince George, 'C' for Princess Charlotte, and 'L' for Prince Louis.

This isn't the first time she has honored them this way; she also wore the Daniella Draper piece during the final day of the royal Scottish tour in 2021. Her jewellery look was made complete with her Cartier rings, her wedding ring, and her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring from Princess Diana's collection.

Kate was so relatable as she battled the rain while out in London today - and managed to look composed while doing it!

© WireImage

She saw the funny side, grinning as she hid under an umbrella as she toured the Natural History Museum's newly transformed gardens. 

The gardens and National Education Nature Park programme are part of the Natural History Museum's Urban Nature Movement, an initiative that aims to help people feel more connected to nature. Kate is known to be passionate about the great outdoors, so we are sure she was in her element - even if she got a little wet!

With Kate making a public return to work after the summer break with her husband, Prince William, at the Natural History Museum today, the royal's new hair look stirred an online debate. This criticism has prompted a strong response from Princess Diana's former hairstylist, Sam McKnight.

© UK Press via Getty Images

In an Instagram post, he defended Kate, writing, "I am shocked, horrified, dismayed, and disgusted by all the nasty comments about the Princess of Wales today. A woman's hair is very personal to her, its armour, defence, confidence, and so much more."

Last night, Queen Mary of Denmark attended the Carlsberg Foundation's Research Awards at Glyptoteket in Copenhagen!

© Getty

She was photographed alongside Carlsberg Foundation chairperson Professor Majken Schultz, as well as the Danish Minister of Education and Research, Christina Egelund.

Queen Mary stole the show in a fabulous new look. She paired an iris print wrap top with the matching trousers from Etro, adding height to her look with the Gianvito Rossi 'Mesh-Paneled Black Suede Pumps'. Adding an extra touch of luxury was her 'Tank Francaise Watch in Yellow Gold' by Cartier, an accessory also owned by the Duchess of Sussex.

The Duke of Edinburgh has also enjoyed a public outing today!

Prince Edward was seen as he headed to the newly refurbished Jewry Wall Museum in Leicester. 

The royal was all smiles upon arrival as he waved warmly to onlookers. It is not the only time Edward is out this week, as, according to the Royal Diary, on Saturday, he will attend a cross-Borough celebration of the 1100th Anniversary of the Coronation of the first King of All England at Queen's Promenade in Kingston upon Thames. Keep your eyes peeled for more!

That's all from me here in London!

I'm handing you over now to Rebecca Lewis in Los Angeles for an evening of more royal updates.

Enjoy!

Queen Camilla showed off her funny side on Thursday as she bundled herself into a phone box with schoolchildren during a tour of a new play area and sculpture gallery at Dulwich Picture Gallery in south London.

Thoughts and prayers to all of us old enough to remember bundling ourselves into phone boxes in the 1990s to escape the rain and eat sandwiches during hikes with the family.

Did you see Princess Kate's new look? Her  usual chocolate brown locks looked blonder than ever, and naturally the royal's new do sparked a huge conversation over at HELLO! HQ and on social media.

"When you say 'princess hair', this is exactly what I picture," Melanie Macleod, HELLO!'s Deputy Beauty and Lifestyle Editor, says.

"Long, tumbling Sleeping Beauty style curls in a golden hue (sorry, brunette ladies). While Princess Kate has never been this blonde before, this ultra-long, voluminous look reminds me of her younger years, back when she was simply Kate Middleton. There's endless rhetoric over whether women over 40 can have long hair, and Princess Kate proves unequivocally, yes."

What did you think of the new look?

The Prince of Wales is making his Apple TV+ debut! 

He has appeared at the end of the trailer for season three of acclaimed travel series “The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy,” which will premiere on September 19, and it appears the royal and Eugene have been at the alcohol!

Click here for our full story...

Have you seen the first trailer for Netflix's Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, detailing the romance between Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband, American 'Shaman' Durek Verrett?

You may remember HELLO! covered their wedding in August 2024 with world exclusive pictures - and you may even spot a HELLO! editor or two in the new series!

"I am very excited to see this documentary. Documenting their wedding was an experience none of us will ever forget — it was an extraordinary weekend. It will be interesting to relive it while watching the Netflix show," says HELLO!'s Website Editor, Andrea Caamano. 

Watch the full trailer here...

It's been a big day for royal beauty news.

Princess Kate debuted a gorgeous new hair color, while over in Denmark Queen Mary rocked the no make-up look as she attended a board meeting.

© Instagram @mary_fonden / Kongehuset

Thanks for following along with us today. To finish today's blog, I want to highlight the news that a beloved party dress worn by Princess Kate - the 2020 red number by Needle & Thread - has become a permanent feature in the brand's collection. 

© Getty Images

It may only be September but it's never too early to consider Christmas dresses!