Kate Middleton Opens Up About Her Blondest Hair Ever for First Time, Revealing Reason for New Look

Kate Middleton is opening up about her noticeably lighter hair — and says there’s no dramatic makeover behind it.

At the Royal Variety Performance on Nov. 19 in London, the Princess of Wales, 43, attended the event with Prince William and chatted backstage with actress Su Pollard. Pollard complimented her new shade, telling her it looked “a lot lighter,” according to the Daily Mail. Kate’s response was simple and very her: her hair “used to be brown,” she said, but it has “gone light in the sunshine.”

The comment comes after Kate’s blonder color drew plenty of attention earlier this fall. In September, she returned to royal duties after the summer break wearing what appeared to be her lightest hair yet — a honey-toned blonde that marked her biggest shift from the glossy brunette style she’s kept as a signature since marrying William in 2011.

Her lighter look was especially striking during her Sept. 4 visit to the Natural History Museum, where her hair also appeared longer than ever. But the brighter shade didn’t stick around for long.

Just two days later, on Sept. 6, Kate appeared to be back to a deeper brown while attending the Women’s Rugby World Cup match between England and Australia. The half-up hairstyle she wore made the exact tone a little harder to judge, but the blonde seemed to have softened.

By the following week, she was firmly back in brunette territory. Her Sept. 8 appearance at The National Federation of Women’s Institute event — held on the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death — confirmed a glossy brown hue, and she’s stayed with that shade since.

So while the internet may have assumed a deliberate color change, Kate’s explanation paints a much more low-key picture: a touch of sunshine, and a little natural lift.