Happy Birthday to The Duchess of Cambridge. Here’s 10 of Her Most Memorable Beauty Looks
A timeless beauty icon.
Over the weekend Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and future Queen of England, celebrated her 40th birthday with a series of brand new royal portraits. Shot by Paolo Roversi for the National Portrait Gallery, the series of images showed the Duchess wearing three different gowns by Alexander McQueen (who she also wore for her wedding to Price William), looking absolutely radiant as she enters the next decade of her life.
The royal has always been a woman decorated for not only her philanthropic efforts but also her penchant for style, expertly weaving monarch fashion traditions with modern modern sensibilities — and looking every inch a future monarch in the process. Not to mention her iconic bouncy blow dry, and natural but always glamorous makeup aesthetic.
So in honour of her birthday, we’re rounding up 15 of the Duchess’ most memorable beauty looks, from crown jewel-adorned up-do’s to her enviable natural waves. Keep scrolling to discover.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 29: Catherine Middleton arrives to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne is to be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will be attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
On her wedding day, Middleton looked every inch a future queen. Dressed in Grace Kelly-inspired McQueen and with makeup she famously did herself, the look was glamorous, sophisticated and timeless.
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits an art project at the construction site of Ben Ainslie Racings new headquarters and Visitor Centre on February 12, 2015 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage)
Middleton’s famously perfect blow-dry in all it’s glory.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 09: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner at perk’s Field on June 9, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Indigo/Getty Images)
A sleeker look for the Duchess, who softened her usual waves for a gala dinner in London back in 2011.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 09: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the BAFTA Brits To Watch event held at the Belasco Theatre on July 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
This trip to Los Angeles was Middleton’s first following her wedding to Price William. The lilac gown was by Alexander McQueen, and was recently reworn by the Duchess at the 2021 Earthshot Awards.
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 25: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham on December 25, 2015 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Middleton in forest green liner to match her skirt suit and headwear for a Christmas day outing in London.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on October 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands accompanied by Queen Maxima are staying at Buckingham Palace during their two day stay in the UK. The last State Visit from the Netherlands was by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus in 1982. (Photo by John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Wearing the Lover’s Knot tiara — a favourite of Princess Diana.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 23: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge departs Kensington Palace to attend a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on day one of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands & Queen Maxima of the Netherlands State Visit on October 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands accompanied by Queen Maxima are staying at Buckingham Palace during their two day stay in the UK. The last State Visit from the Netherlands was by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus in 1982. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
A rosy cheek, natural eye and shimmering highlight for a state dinner held at Buckingham Palace back in 2018.
BLETCHLEY, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 14: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the ‘D-Day: Interception, Intelligence, Invasion’ exhibition at Bletchley Park on May 14, 2019 in Bletchley, England. The D-Day exhibition marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Dressed in Alessandra Rich, Middleton’s natural brunette has been tinted to a warmer, chestnut shade (and of course, we love it).
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – NOVEMBER 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends Shout’s Crisis Volunteer celebration event at Troubadour White City Theatre on November 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Middleton reportedly gets Brazilian blow-outs to tame her natural curls.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 21: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the ceremonial welcome for Singapore’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the start of a state visit at Horse Guards Parade on October 21, 2014 in London, England. The President is at the beginning of his four day stay during which he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Middleton rarely wears her hair up, so this pony tail is especially noteworthy.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – APRIL 17: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Last year, at the funeral of her father-in-law Price Philip. This image featured heavily in the media at the time of his passing, partly due to Kate’s striking appearance, but also as a sign of the times (the funeral only played host to 30 people due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions).
EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 26: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge hosts a drive-in cinema screening of Disney’s ‘Cruella’ for Scottish NHS workers at The Palace of Holyroodhouse on May 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo – Pool/Getty Images)
Middleton’s beauty signature has come to be known as a strong brow, and a healthy swirl of rose-coloured blush.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 28: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the “No Time To Die” World Premiere at Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
How incredible beautiful is this up-do and lash combination, as seen at the premiere for James Bond: No Time to Die. This is one of Middleton’s most recent red carpet appearances.
SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 11: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leaves Singapore Botanical Gardens after a visit on day 1 of a Diamond Jubilee tour on September 11, 2012 in Singapore. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are on a Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Far East taking in Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and the tiny Pacific Island of Tuvalu. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
It’s not hard to see why ‘Kate Middleton blow dry’ is one of the most Googled beauty queries.
VICTORIA, BC – SEPTEMBER 26: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House on Day 3 of a Royal Tour of Canada on September 27, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are visiting Canada as part of an eight day visit to the country taking in areas such as Bella Bella, Whitehorse and Kelowna (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Lady in red. Interestingly, the Duchess rarely wears bold lip colours, opting for a brown smokey eye at almost every royal appearance.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 09: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London, England. The Commonwealth represents 2.4 billion people and 54 countries, working in collaboration towards shared economic, environmental, social and democratic goals. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
With a low knotted bun and winged liner, the Duchess looks poised, elegant and glamorous.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – DECEMBER 08: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (wearing Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond Fringe Earrings) attends the ‘Together at Christmas’ community carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2021 in London, England. The carol service, hosted and spearheaded by The Duchess of Cambridge, pays tribute to the work of individuals and organisations across the UK who have supported their communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
With natural skin, glossy curls and her signature pink cheek, Middleton is the epitome of what it means to age gracefully. Here, she’s pictured at a Christmas carol event in Westminister Abbey.
