It’s Lady Jane here and oh, the Royal wringer Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has just been through! One moment she’s embracing the sparkle of official engagements, next she’s defending her hair colour from the scrutiny of the masses. Truly, if I changed my hair as often as poor Kate, I’d need a direct line to the palace stylist. Now, Catherine did just that—stepping out of Balmoral in August with those striking blonde locks, only to revert to her signature brunette days later, after a social media maelstrom speculating everything from wigs to whether the new hue was a harbinger of something more sinister, namely her cancer battle. According to those ever-chatty palace sources, what really shook Kate wasn’t the state visit from Donald and Melania Trump, nor the endless Windsor handshaking, but the ruthless online commentary, especially after such a tumultuous year and very public recovery. She braved the cameras expecting warmth, only to catch cold, unfriendly winds[1].

Yet, on went the show. During the Trumps’ recent state banquet at Windsor Castle, with King Charles presiding, she was a portrait of composure, all radiant smiles and impeccable posture. Now, the ensemble—let’s talk high Royal chic!—was peak autumn: a bold burgundy coat dress (imagine all the leaves at the royal parks condensed into fabric), accented with that Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch, positvely beaming with diamonds and the royal motto, “Ich Dien.” It’s classic Kate, subtle but absolutely calculated: a wink to her husband Prince William’s role and their solidarity[2].

Speaking of William, swooning aside, there was a rare, hand-in-hand moment caught between them outside Windsor Castle. Yes, the world spied a Windsor PDA! They looked every bit the united royal power couple—he in full Order of the Garter regalia, she in a Phillipa Lepley couture gown and the Lover’s Knot Tiara (her go-to tiara for dazzling the international set). Donald Trump galantly declared Kate “radiant and so healthy,” a sentiment the cameras heartily endorsed during that glittering evening[4][5].

But it’s not all tiaras and state dinners. Behind palace doors, a new chapter is unfolding. The Waleses—Kate, William, and their trio of energetic heirs—are off to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. After Adelaide Cottage, this is their declared “forever home,” all about stability, nature trails, and leaving the live-in staff at the old front door. Kate’s made it plain: healing and groundedness matter more than pomp right now[3].

So, while the headlines swirl and the trolls type, Kate Middleton keeps turning the page—sometimes brunette, sometimes blonde, always regal, and above all, determined to write her own next chapter. And as your Lady Jane, I’ll be keeping my eye—and my gossip—trained firmly on the Crown.

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