Skip to main content

Princess Anne, like most other members of the British royal family, has spent the majority of her life in the spotlight. Therefore, even a subtle change made to her look likely wouldn’t go unnoticed. But now that the Princess Royal has completely changed up her hair, it’s making news around the world.

Here’s what the late Queen Elizabeth‘s daughter did to her hair that has royal fans everywhere buzzing.

The noticeable change Princess Anne made to her hair

Princess Anne during a VIP tour of St. James Quarter in Edinburgh, Scotland
Princess Anne during a VIP tour of St. James Quarter in Edinburgh, Scotland | Chris Jackson/Getty Images for St. James Quarter

For decades we’ve been so used to seeing Princess Anne’s hair styled one way — pulled up and back into a bouffant. But on a recent engagement with the other working royals, there was something quite different about her hair.

Express noted that on Nov. 9, Anne attended the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. And while she kept the same pinned-back bun style, it was clear as she stood alongside her older brother that her hair color was several shades darker.

The princess had been content for years not covering her grays and just as she kept the same updo for decades, she never wanted or felt the need to change the color. But as she and King Charles were photographed clapping inside the hall, it appeared that Anne decided to dye her hair a deep chocolate color.

King Charles III and Princess Anne attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England
King Charles III and Princess Anne attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall | Chris J. Ratcliffe – WPA Pool/Getty Images

To go with her new look, the princess donned a black dress and tailored suit jacket with a printed monochrome scarf and black loafers. She accessorized her outfit with an oversized poppy brooch, a pearl necklace, and pearl earrings.

What Princess Anne said after an actor referred to her hair as a ‘beast’

Princess Anne’s hair has made headlines before after Erin Doherty, the actor who played the royal in Seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown, talked about how long it took a team of stylists to get her ready for the role.

In an interview with Town and Country, Doherty referred to the princess’s bun hairstyle as a “beast.”

(L) Princess Anne, (R) Erin Doherty
(L): Princess Anne |MelMedia/GC Images, (R): Erin Doherty | JC Olivera/WireImage

She explained, “Makeup literally took 10 minutes but hair sometimes it would take two hours … It’s its own beast. Literally, I would sit in the chair, people would come in and go and come in and go, and I sat still in the same place. But it was so necessary for her character because it felt like her hair and her fashion were the way that she was able to express herself in the confined, controlled environment that she grew up in.”

Princess Anne later responded to Doherty’s comments and wondered how on earth it could take that long to perfect her hairstyle saying: “Actually I read an article the other day about The Crown, the actress was talking about how long it took them to do their hair like I did. And I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean it takes me 10 or 15 minutes.”