Princess Anne turned heads at the 2024 Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where she joined other members of the Royal Family for the annual event.
The Princess Royal, then 74, appeared with a noticeably different take on her signature swept-up hairstyle — a look she has remained loyal to for decades.
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For the occasion, Anne wore an elegant tailored ensemble with a patterned silk scarf and black jacket, accessorised with a remembrance poppy, pearl jewellery and understated finishing touches.
While her outfit was typically polished, it was her hair that attracted the most attention.
Princess Anne has long embraced a mix of grey and deep brown tones, but at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9, 2024, her hair appeared noticeably darker, with a richer chocolate shade reminiscent of her younger years. Minimal makeup and her classic lipstick completed the look.
Despite the subtle change, Anne showed no sign of abandoning the practical hairstyle that has become part of her public image. She has previously revealed that styling her hair takes far less time than many might expect.
“I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean, it takes me 10 or 15 minutes.”
The Princess Royal has remained remarkably consistent in her personal style throughout decades of public life. Rather than following changing fashion trends, she has largely favoured a practical, polished aesthetic that reflects the same no-nonsense approach often associated with her royal duties.
Princess Anne’s Latest Somme Appearance Offers a Fresh Look at Her Signature Hair
More recent photographs show just how closely Princess Anne continues to stick to the hairstyle that has defined her image for decades.
The Princess Royal recently joined commemorations in France marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Alongside the Duke of Gloucester, Anne attended events paying tribute to servicemen who lost their lives during one of the First World War’s most devastating battles.
As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, she took part in commemorations across the Somme, including at the Thiepval Memorial.
Yet the latest photographs also offered a particularly clear look at Anne’s current hairstyle.
Her hair was once again swept smoothly away from her face and styled high around the crown, creating the familiar rounded and voluminous silhouette royal watchers have associated with her for generations.
The photographs suggest that while the colour of her hair continues to evolve naturally, the basic shape remains almost unchanged.
Viewed from the side, Anne’s consistency is even more apparent. The front remains carefully swept back, while the volume is concentrated around the crown and back of the head.
Her hair now appears to combine darker brown with visible grey tones, creating a more natural contrast than the richer chocolate shade that drew attention at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024.
The appearance reinforces the idea that her headline-making change was never about abandoning her famous hairstyle altogether. Instead, Anne appears comfortable making small adjustments while retaining the overall look she knows works for her.
Princess Anne Keeps Her Familiar Hairstyle at Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Rehearsal
Princess Anne continued that pattern during another recent public appearance, this time at a rehearsal for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Redford Barracks.
As Patron of the Tattoo since 2006, the Princess Royal met members of the international cast, military personnel and crew involved in bringing the annual spectacle to life. More than 800 performers from around the world are taking part this year ahead of performances against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
But once again, Anne’s appearance provided another glimpse of the hairstyle that has remained remarkably consistent throughout her royal life.
Her hair retained the familiar swept-up shape, with volume concentrated high around the crown and a smooth finish around the front. Rather than adopting an entirely new style following the darker look seen in 2024, Anne appears to have returned comfortably to the familiar aesthetic she has worn for decades.
Taken together, her latest appearances show why even a relatively small change to Princess Anne’s hair can generate so much attention. When someone has maintained such a distinctive hairstyle for more than half a century, subtle differences in colour or volume can appear surprisingly dramatic.
Yet the Princess Royal’s recent engagements make one thing clear: although she may occasionally refresh the details, the practical, polished swept-up hairstyle that has defined her public image remains firmly in place.
