ALL IN KNOTS

Kate Middleton’s Hairstyle Has a Meaningful Hidden Detail

Eagle-eyed fans noted the subtle symbol in her half-updo.

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Updated Oct 10, 2026 6:24PM EDTPublished Oct 10, 2026 6:23PM EDT

Princess Kate has snuck a hidden detail into her hairstyle during a surprise visit to Northern Ireland with her husband, Prince William.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Belfast on a drizzly Friday for a 24-hour visit to The Commons, a project aiming to repurpose a church into a community center.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore a long, belted emerald tartan skirt by Emilia Wickstead with a white ruffled Daisy Knatchbull blouse during a visit to Northern Ireland.
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For the occasion, Kate wore her chestnut hair in what was reportedly her favorite half-up, half-down style, with a new detail that stood out to onlookers, who speculated it held symbolic meaning.

Several outlets noted the intricate twist resembled a Celtic knot.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore her chestnut hair in an intricate twist resembling a Celtic knot during a visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, on October 9, 2026.
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The knot is created with a symmetrical ribbon of lines that pass through each other infinitely, with no clear beginning or end.

While different Celtic knot styles represent different ideas, the knot generally stands for interconnection and the cycle of life. Notably, it is not specific to Irish history—it is also relevant to other parts of the U.K., including Scotland and Wales.

Princess Kate wore a floor-length emerald green gown by Andrew Gn to honor the Nigerian flag during a visit by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the U.K. on March 18, 2026.
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Earlier this year, the princess wore a floor-length emerald green gown by Andrew Gn to honor the Nigerian flag during a visit by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the U.K.

In 2025, she wore a blush-pink Dior Bar jacket for a state visit by Emmanuel Macron, and she donned a “Welsh” red peacoat with a traditional daffodil pin during a visit to Wales that same year.

Princess Kate wore a blush-pink Dior Bar jacket for a state visit by Emmanuel Macron.
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Along with her stunning brunette mane, Kate looked radiant in a long, belted emerald tartan skirt by Emilia Wickstead with a white ruffled Daisy Knatchbull blouse.

She accessorized the ensemble with a long, black Catherine Walker peacoat, pointed black Gianvito Rossi pumps, and a Mulberry wristlet that matched the color of her skirt.