The Ultimate Guide to Royal Hairstyles: From Victorian Crowns to Modern Monarchy
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Royal hairstyles have moved from strict tradition to bold trendsetting through the centuries. Some iconic looks started global fashion movements. These regal hairstyles stayed predictable and conservative until Princess Diana arrived on the scene. Her signature feathered haircut became the must-have style of the 1980s. The way royal hair styles affect fashion reaches way beyond the reach and influence of palace walls.
Royal hairstyles have left their mark on culture and society in meaningful ways. Kate Middleton engaged the world with her bouncy blowout, and blowout bars started expanding across the globe. As with Meghan Markle, she brought a fresh take on royal hair standards. She wore her locks confidently: up, down, straight, curly, or in her signature messy bun. But not every royal hair change got everyone's approval. Princess Diana, despite being a style icon, tried some questionable hair experiments.
This piece takes you through the rise of royal hairstyles from Victorian crowns to today's monarchy. Royal hairstyles became symbolic battlegrounds in historical culture wars. They showed broader changes in society like women getting stronger in the 1920s. These styles continue to shape fashion today. The sort of thing i love includes royal wedding hairstyles, regal looks for different hair lengths, and unique styles from different royal personalities. You'll discover the cuts and styles that made history.
Table of Contents
Victorian to Edwardian Era: The Age of Regal Structure
The Victorian and Edwardian eras, now 150+ years old, shaped what we call traditional royal hairstyles today. Hair wasn't just about looks during these times - it spoke volumes about status, mourning customs, and society's ideals of femininity.
The influence of Queen Victoria's modest styles
Queen Victoria left her mark on hair fashion throughout her 63-year reign. Her early years saw the rise of the 'Apollo Loop', where stylists attached false hair to wires to create vertical loops on top of the head. As time went on, Victorian fashion took a simpler turn from earlier eras. The hairstyles became more natural with middle parts, buns, or coils that let curls flow freely at the sides.
The queen's personal hair routines revealed the private side of royal life. Young Princess Victoria loved having someone read to her during her hair styling sessions. After losing Prince Albert in 1861, she adopted the widow's cap that became her signature look for the rest of her life. This choice created mourning traditions for women all over Britain. Her conservative 'Victoria' hairstyle had two braids attached to a simple bun, capturing the serious mood of Victorian England.
Edwardian pompadours and the rise of volume
Royal hairstyles changed dramatically after Victoria's death in 1901 under Edward VII's reign. The Edwardian era, also known as 'La Belle Epoque', celebrated big, bold updos. The pompadour became the signature style, named after Madame de Pompadour, though Edwardian women wore it much fuller.
Ladies created these impressive structures with pads, twists, and structured curls. They often used "rats" (matted pads or rolls of hair) or wireframes to hold the style in place. The typical Edwardian pompadour rose high above the forehead and stayed close at the back with a bun on top. In spite of that, women wore many variations: high pompadours, severe styles, soft pompadours, and the popular 'pompadour dip'.
Hair accessories and symbolism in early royal fashion
Royal hair accessories told stories of status and occasion. Queen Victoria chose a diamond circlet for her coronation and a simple orange blossom wreath for her wedding day. Nobles favoured pearl-covered hairpieces and floral crowns.
Decorative combs carved from tortoiseshell and ivory became wearable art pieces. The large Mantilla combs, placed at the back of the head, sparkled with coloured stones and baroque pearls. Victorian women's hairstyles often needed false hair to achieve fashionable volume, so they used switches, clusters, and frizzy fringes called frisettes.
The sort of thing I love about this era was the Victorian tradition of hair jewellery. Queen Victoria started the trend of wearing a loved one's hair after death, and she wore a locket with Prince Albert's hair until she died. This practise became popular throughout society, with women making intricate wreaths, necklaces and bracelets from human hair.
Mid-20th Century: From Duty to Glamour
The post-war years brought an amazing transformation in royal hairstyles. Royal families balanced their traditional looks with the glamour of a new era. Victorian rigidity gave way to more expressive styles, yet royal hair remained a powerful symbol of identity and position.
Queen Elizabeth II's structured curls
Queen Elizabeth II created an instantly recognisable hairstyle that became her signature look after her coronation in 1952. Her trademark curly crop featured a "long, round layer" cut that kept all hair at the same length throughout. The Queen preferred a classic "shampoo and set" with small rollers placed in an "Italian boy" pattern that created similar curls consistently.
Her iconic style evolved subtly in volume through the years. It appeared larger during the 1960s and 1980s but became somewhat shorter later. Ian Carmichael from Trevor Sorbie salon, the Queen's personal hairdresser, managed to keep this consistency for decades. Angela Kelly, the Queen's dresser, stepped in to wash her hair weekly and maintain her iconic style during pandemic lockdowns.
Princess Margaret's Hollywood-inspired looks
Princess Margaret took a different approach from her sister and welcomed fashion-forward hairstyles with Hollywood flair. People called her "The Margaret Look" in the 1950s due to her status as a style icon. Margaret's hair featured a more relaxed, textured bob with face-framing layers and micro-bangs during the 1960s, unlike the Queen's structured style.
Margaret never hesitated to set trends and visited Rene, a Mayfair hairdresser, every Friday. Her bold approach to fashion showed in her accessories - she wore everything from diamond tiaras to bright headscarves and mod sunglasses. Her hair evolved with her lifestyle, from floral print dresses and traditional styles in her youth to bold, fashion-forward looks in her twenties.
Royal hairstyles for short hair in the 1950s and 60s
Shorter hairstyles dominated royal fashion through the mid-century. Hollywood stars inspired practical yet feminine curled looks that became popular. Queen Elizabeth chose tight curls for her 1947 wedding that reflected post-war practicality while staying elegant.
Pin-up stars like Marilyn Monroe influenced royal styling during the 1950s. The 1960s welcomed more experimentation. Women alternated between rebellious pixie cuts and glamorous soft bobs, drawing inspiration from TV personalities and Grace Kelly's timeless sophistication.
The Diana Era and the Rise of Iconic Cuts
Princess Diana brought a fresh wave of change to royal hairstyles. Her arrival reshaped the fashion scene, and her influence continues to inspire today.
Lady Diana's feathered bob and its global effect
A signature feathered shag with multiple, finely cut layers became Lady Diana's trademark look worldwide. This soft, layered blonde crop captured the spirit of an era. Her hairstyle went beyond fashion trends to represent a new kind of princess who broke free from old traditions.
The 1980s: Big hair, bigger statements
Bold hairstyles celebrated individuality throughout the 1980s, with Diana leading the way. She wore her hair with teased height, wispy texture, and that unmistakable side-swept fringe. Her stylist Sam McKnight helped shape her transformation from romantic frills to sleeker, sharper cuts. These styles matched perfectly with her Chanel and Versace power suits.
Royal wedding hairstyles that defined a generation
Diana chose her signature side-swept shaggy style with bangs for her 1981 wedding, which she paired with the Spencer Tiara. Her short bob layers added volume to complement the family heirloom. This modest choice stood apart from the popular permed, heavily decorated bridal styles of the time.
How Diana's styles influenced royal hairstyles for girls
Diana's haircuts inspired millions of women to try shorter cuts with soft, sideswept bangs. Each new hairstyle showed her personal growth rather than just following trends. "Changing my hair let out something quite different in my personality," Diana once said.
Modern Monarchy: Personal Style Meets Tradition
The modern royal family masterfully balances personal style with tradition. Their signature looks honour royal history while adopting contemporary trends.
Kate Middleton's polished waves and blowouts
Kate's bouncy blowout has become a global phenomenon that inspired blowout bars worldwide. Her signature cut features long layers that fall just past her shoulders and end in polished waves. Hairstylists love the classic elegance and fullness of Kate's mane. She seamlessly switches between vintage-inspired '60s waves, sleek centre partings, and intricate updos at formal events.
Meghan Markle's relaxed buns and natural textures
Meghan brought fresh versatility to royal styling after joining the family. The Duchess made the messy bun her trademark look. She styled her own hair for the 2023 Invictus Games and showcased a new "undone" look. Her colourist Kadi Lee created a "classic, rich espresso brunette" shade through careful highlighting and glossing.
Royal hairstyles for long hair in the 21st century
Royal long hairstyles show amazing versatility today. Kate loves twisted half-up-half-down styles that highlight her thick hair's cascading waves. Meghan switches between sleek ponytails, Hollywood waves, and her signature relaxed buns effortlessly.
Men's royal hairstyles: From William to Harry
William's hair evolved from curly blonde university locks to progressively shorter cuts. Harry's hair appears thicker and fuller, suggesting possible treatments. Harry even mentioned his brother William's "alarming" baldness in his memoir.
Key Takeaways
Royal hairstyles have evolved from rigid Victorian traditions to modern expressions of personal style, consistently influencing global fashion trends and reflecting broader societal changes:
Queen Victoria's modest styles and mourning traditions established conservative royal hair norms that dominated for decades.
Princess Diana revolutionised royal fashion with her feathered bob, sparking global trends and representing a new empowered monarchy.
Kate Middleton's bouncy blowouts created such demand they led to the worldwide proliferation of blowout bars.
Modern royals like Meghan Markle balance tradition with personal expression through versatile styles from messy buns to sleek waves.
Royal hairstyles serve as powerful symbols of status, mourning, rebellion, and cultural identity throughout history.
The transformation from Victorian structure to contemporary versatility demonstrates how royal hair choices continue to shape fashion whilst reflecting the monarchy's evolution from duty-bound tradition to relatable modernity.
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