It turns out the easiest way to shake up one of Kate Middleton‘s go-to hairstyles is simply to move it a few inches higher. While the princess has worn ponytails plenty of times over the years, they’re almost always gathered at the nape or midway up the back of her head. Her high ponytail worn to Wimbledon, however, feels like a playful departure—one that radiates serious Sporty Spice vibes without sacrificing an ounce of royal polish.

Unlike the ultra-tight “snatched” ponytails that have dominated red carpets recently, Middleton’s version strikes a softer balance. The hair at the crown is smoothed back but not slick—in fact, there’s a decent amount of volume up top—with virtually no visible part. The ponytail itself falls in long, loose, brushed-out waves that start just below the hair-wrapped elastic. Although it may not sit directly atop her head like some extra-high ponytails, when you look at it from the side, you can really appreciate the subtle lift through the crown and how the height of the ponytail elongates the entire look.

Thinking back, the last time we can recall Catherine, Princess of Wales, wearing a ponytail this perky was for another sport-adjacent event in 2023, when she visited Maidenhead Rugby Club to talk about the Shaping Us campaign and even (kind of) played some rugby.

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