The Princess of Wales stepped out with a noticeably lighter hair colour on Sunday as she attended the traditional church service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral with Prince William and their three children. Arriving in a black Range Rover, William drove while Kate sat in the passenger seat, smiling brightly. Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte were also present, with 10-year-old Charlotte appearing cheerful as the family made their way to the service.

According to a source, Kate’s hair naturally lightens in the summer due to the sun, marking a subtle shift from her usual brunette style. The outing was seen as a public show of unity for the royal family amid ongoing tensions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Royal traditions continue

Senior members of the Royal Family attended the service, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, who arrived separately, as well as Princess Anne. The family’s appearance underscored a commitment to maintaining royal traditions despite strained relations with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

It has been three years since William and Kate were last photographed walking side by side with Harry and Meghan outside Windsor Castle, following the late Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022. That joint appearance was described as an “olive branch” from William to Harry, who had stepped back from his official royal duties and relocated to the United States.

Ongoing tensions with the Sussexes

Since that time, relations between the families have reportedly worsened. Former royal editor Duncan Larcombe told OK! that the feud is “worse than ever,” citing high-profile public disclosures by Harry and Meghan, including their Oprah Winfrey interview and the release of Harry’s book, Spare. According to Larcombe, these events deepened feelings of betrayal within the family. Meanwhile, William and Kate have remained focused on their official duties in the UK, maintaining their public roles without monetising their royal status.