Kate Middleton Champions Adult Hair Bows at VE Day Concert
Behold, a ribboned reverie danced through the twilight of Horse Guards Parade as the Princess of Wales graced the VE Day concert with an oversized black bow—a poetic flourish atop her elegant half-up hairstyle that transformed an evening of solemn commemoration into a statement of audacious grace. On the evening of May 8, Kate Middleton, 43, joined Prince William, 42, King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, among 12,000 attendees for Britain’s week-long tribute to the end of World War II in Europe (People Magazine). Beneath the murmured strains of wartime ballads and the flutter of miniature Union Jacks, the royal box hosted dignitaries such as Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside six special guests—veterans and evacuees whose childhoods were reshaped by conflict. Cloaked in an all-white ensemble featuring a structured blazer and a ladylike skirt, the Princess paired her five-strand pearl necklace and statement stud earrings with a majestic bow that recalled both childhood innocence and modern self-expression. This bold accessory choice marks yet another chapter in Kate’s quiet campaign to prove that hair bows are not solely the province of little girls. From dressing up a simple ponytail at previous engagements to embellishing a Jenny Packham gown during Trooping the Colour with a striped statement bow, she has proven time and again that a single ribbon can breathe new life into a wardrobe staple (Telegraph via Bethan Holt). “The bow is the one accessory that she’s repeatedly added, and it’s totally transformed previous outfits into something that looks quite different,” observed Bethan Holt, fashion director at The Telegraph, underscoring a sustainable approach to royal dressing: re-imagining beloved pieces rather than letting them languish. Princess Charlotte, now 10, once donned endless hair bows herself but has since shifted to low ponytails and side braids—a quiet passing of the bow-tipped torch. As music swelled and royal waves rippled through the crowd, Kate’s midnight-black ribbon anchored her ivory attire in a striking contrast, reminding onlookers that accessories are poetry in fabric form. This sleek nod to beauty’s storied past and Kate’s forward-looking ethos reveals that true style waltzes between tradition and innovation. And so, the tale of a single bow concludes its evening crescendo, fluttering into the archives of royal fashion lore—and perhaps hinting at the next chapter in the Princess’s ever-evolving sartorial symphony.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Getty Images, WPA Pool
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
