Prince Harry Reveals Charles’ Bizarre Obsession With Kate Middleton’s Hair: ‘Pa Likes It When...’

King Charles and Kate Middleton have always enjoyed a good relationship. For Charles, Middleton is like the daughter he never had. Charles also allegedly has a particular fondness for Middleton's smooth, luscious hair. This rather odd detail was once revealed by none other than Charles' younger son, Prince Harry.

It's no secret that for most public appearances, the Princess of Wales wears her hair down. Very rarely does the Princess tie her hair in a traditional updo or a ponytail as senior royal women used to do (high hair once meant artistocracy). As reported by Pure Wow, Harry, in his memoir, Spare, dished, “Pa likes it when women wear their hair down.” The book also divulged that the now-King “had ‘often spoken’ of how lovely it was,” when describing Middleton's hair. Interestingly, Charles wasn’t the only royal member with a particular fondness for her hair. Harry revealed, “Granny, too. She often commented on ‘Kate’s beautiful mane.’”

While Charles and his mother, Queen Elizabeth, preferred women who wore their hair down, they also appreciated a minimal makeup look. According to Spare, this was one of the key reasons Meghan Markle opted for the loose hair and subtle makeup look while meeting Charles for the first time.

Middleton's preference for subtle makeup and letting her hair loose was such that she broke a 350-year-old tradition when she wore the same for her wedding to Prince William. According to royal reporter Ashley Pearson, she was determined to wear her hair down—a sudden shift from the elegant updos traditionally worn by royal brides As reported by Marie Claire, Pearson in the documentary William & Kate: The Journey, said, “Royal sources tell me that the royals insisted very strongly to Kate that they would prefer her to wear her hair up for this very special occasion. Kate had her heart set on wearing her hair down with long flowing curls, which is her favorite way to wear it, and actually William’s favorite as well.” Pearson continued, “As is evident from photos of the day, the royals ended up compromising on her look.”

The Princess of Wales is renowned for her signature long, glossy chestnut hair, often styled in soft waves or voluminous blowouts. On rare occasions, she has been seen embracing her naturally curly hair, though it’s typically styled to enhance volume and shape. However, in her most recent appearance at the 2025 St Patrick’s Day Parade, she chose to wear her hair in a traditional updo. Irrespective of the hairstyle, Middleton has inspired a generation of women and is regarded as a fashion icon— 'Kate Effect'—a phenomenon where anything she wears or endorses sees a spike in popularity and sales. Her economic influence is so significant that it’s estimated to boost the UK fashion industry by £1 billion annually.