The Princess of Wales always has flawless hair. Princess Catherine’s chocolate hair has long been the envy of fans of the royal family, whether it is styled into a chic updo, curled into regal ringlets, or slicked into a runway-ready pleat.
However, one recently discovered photo from Prince William and Princess Catherine’s post-marriage period demonstrates that even the future monarch cannot withstand the effects of humidity on her hair.
On September 17, 2013, as part of their Far Eastern Diamond Jubilee tour, the royal couple paid a visit to Tuvanipipu Island.
The then-Duchess of Cambridge’s normally sleek and glossy mane had become voluminous and wavy while exposed to the elements of tropical island weather, giving royal fans an extremely rare glimpse at Catherine’s natural curls.
The mother-of-three rocked her mermaid waves with a sleeveless black beach dress and a botanical necklace, looking as radiant as ever in a rarely-seen natural look.
It’s not the first time the Princess of Wales’ ethereal beauty has taken us by surprise while she travels.
Other images from the same trip show Catherine dressed in an off-the-shoulder hot pink beach dress and raffia espadrille heels, looking like an island goddess.
Designer Ellena Tavioni Pittman of design house TAV, a Cook Islander, created the Princess’s dress in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
She kept her famous mane neatly styled into ringlets while she and William visited the Solomon Islands’ Governor General’s residence.
Royal admirers still have no idea how the Princess of Wales keeps up her enviable chesnut hair. The 41-year-old royal’s princess-like mane may even be enhanced and lengthened by a set of invisible hair extensions, according to experts.
HELLO! previously spoke with Olia Cutz, a hair extension specialist with The Extensionist with more than a decade of experience. “Catherine could have had ultra bonds, which are extremely thin hair extensions, or tapes. They can lengthen and thicken any type of hair, but because they are so undetectable, she said.