BOW-MENT

Kate Middleton Ditched Her Fascinator for a Coquette-Core Accessory

And you know what? It’s royally adorable.
By Kara Nesvig

Getty Images

When you’re a member of the British royal family, you’re used to wearing hats and other headgear, including, well, priceless, gemstone-bedecked tiaras and crowns. It’s part of the job. Given that she’s been an official part of said royal family for well over a decade now, Kate Middleton has achieved expert-level status when it comes to fascinators and tiaras, but she gave both a break in favor of a surprising—and very trendy—hair accessory.

For a royal outing on May 8, the Princess of Wales ditched her usual jaunty hat in favor of a big bow… a big velvet bow, no less. Depending on the occasion, Middleton tends to wear her hair up in an updo or down in her signature shining waves, but for this particular event, a concert to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, she zigged where she typically zagged, pulling half of her newly lightened hair up and pinning at the crown with an oversized bow barrette. True to form, the lengths were curled in precise waves with not one single hair out of place.

Kate Middleton appears at an event in a white jacket pearls and a bow in her hair.
Getty Images
Kate Middleton wears a white jacket and curly hairstyle with a bow in her hair.
Getty Images

Now, this isn’t the first time the princess has worn a bow, but this is definitely the *biggest* bow she’s worn; in the past, she’s worn smaller velvet bows tied at the base of a swingy ponytail for a more casual coquette look. The velvet bow felt more formal than those smaller-scale ribbons, partially due to her half-up hairstyle and the dressy white jacket and layered pearl necklaces.

The bow has truly dominated the trend cycle over the past year, with tons of stars incorporating the coquette-core accessory into their hairstyles on and off the red carpet. While a velvet bow is an interesting choice for spring, given that the fabric is typically reserved for fall and winter, it isn’t technically summer yet, so we’ll go with it. The bow could also do double duty as a mother-daughter accessory, as Middleton could easily share it with her daughter, Princess Charlotte. That makes it even cuter, TBH.

More celebrity beauty news:

  • A Redheaded Jennifer Love Hewitt Was Not On My Bingo Card
  • Katie Holmes, Where Have You Been Hiding These Curls?
  • The Best Beauty Looks at the 2025 Met Gala

Now, take a peek in Paris Hilton’s “Sliving Spa”:

Follow Allure on Instagramand TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletterto stay up to date on all things beauty.