The hair drama comes on the heels of another widely discussed appearance just days earlier. On September 8, Catherine joined Prince William in Sunningdale for an event marking the three-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. There, her brunette waves — darker than they had appeared weeks before — prompted more speculation. Was she returning to her signature shade, or was the blonde simply a faded toner?

Some insisted it was a deliberate shift back, while others suggested the earlier blonde look might have been a wig altogether. “If you look closely at her hairline, this is her natural hair,” one person wrote. “Curious why she chose to wear the blonde wig for the other outing.”

Whatever the truth, Catherine remained focused on the purpose of her visits. At Sudbury Silk Mills and Marina Mill, she spoke with artisans, admired hand-drawn floral designs, and celebrated the talent behind Britain’s textile industry. In a video shared to her official Instagram, the princess captioned the montage: “Celebrating creativity, skills and community in Suffolk and Kent. From weaving to hand-printing, a pleasure to see the joy of craftsmanship at the heart of the British textiles industry.”

But online, the artistry of fabric was secondary. Once again, Catherine’s hair — whether brunette or blonde, bun or waves, wig or not — became the story.