While there’s no official royal beauty rule book, members of the royal family do seem to be subject to a set of beauty standards that the general public doesn’t need to adhere to.
Think about Princess Kate. You never see the future Queen in a bold red lip, nor is she ever seen in public with a sprinkling of glitter on her eyelids (not even at glitzy occasions such as the BAFTAs), or bright blue nails.
This neutral approach is likely because the royals are required to be mindful of not only the engagement they’re attending, but also of their unique position in the UK. In the same way that the royal family no longer announces the brands Princess Kate wears, due to her position of seniority and a desire not to distract from the work she is doing, her makeup also needs to be low-key, so as not to detract from the causes she is championing.
© Getty ImagesPrincess Kate’s makeup is designed to not distract from the work she is doing
Royal rulebreaker
While they do follow an unofficial set of royal beauty rules, there’s nothing to say that the royal family always follows other long-held beauty beliefs, as evidenced by Princess Kate’s look at the first State Banquet of 2026 last week.
The special event was held for the state visit of the President and First Lady of Nigeria, and the Princess of Wales sidestepped one of the oldest beauty rules in the book.
William and Kate at the banquet in question
Normally, as the weather begins to (slightly) warm up, we consign our dark, smoky eye makeup to the bottom of our makeup bags, but Princess Kate decided to completely ignore this beauty tradition at the weekend, dusting a darker-than-usual khaki brown shade all over her lids.
Rather than lean into lighter makeup for spring, the Princess of Wales’ look veered into an autumnal vibe, with a deep, rich shade dusted over the whole area – but that doesn’t mean the Princess of Wales’ look doesn’t work in spring.
© Getty ImagesCatherine, Princess of Wales wore dark makeup
“Dark eye makeup, which is usually mistaken as a ‘winter exclusive look’, doesn’t have to feel heavy or out of place in other seasons, and the Princess of Wales time and time again, proves exactly that,” confirms makeup artist, Natalie Rose Vella.
“To make darker eye makeup work for spring, it’s all about balance,” says Natalise Rose. “Pairing a darker, smudged liner or shadow with a luminous, barely-there base keeps the look feeling elevated rather than dramatic in brighter spring light.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesTo make dark makeup work in spring, it’s all about balance
“The secret is sticking to washes of one tone across the lid instead of overdefining the crease with depth, which can intensify the eyes too strongly for the lighter, fresher mood of the season.”
“To make the most of a richer, bolder eye in Spring it’s all about balance. Making sure that you have symmetry between lip, cheek and eye is truly what makes it work. For example, if you have a darker eye, go more neutral with the lip. You can also play with textures, adding a little shimmer to a smokey eye by using the new Bobbi Brown Crystal Eyes Shimmer Eyeshadow Stick. The shimmer helps to enhance a darker eye look and brings a multi-dimensional sparkle element that creates a new focal point and freshness to the eyes.”
Bobbi Brown’s Director of Education and Artistry, Victor Anaya, agrees, adding: “To make the most of a richer, bolder eye in Spring, it’s all about balance. Making sure that you have symmetry between lip, cheek and eye is truly what makes it work. For example, if you have a darker eye, go more neutral with the lip. You can also play with textures, adding a little shimmer to a smoky eye. The shimmer helps to enhance a darker eye look and brings a multi-dimensional sparkle element that creates a new focal point and freshness to the eyes.” He recommends the new Bobbi Brown Crystal Eyes Shimmer Eyeshadow Stick to create the look.
On why Princess Kate’s look is perfect, no matter the season, Natalie Rose comments that her base is key to making the look work. “Keeping the rest of the face minimal is key to letting a darker eye breathe in spring. A nude, barely-there lip and a soft flush on the cheeks will strike the perfect balance, and go easy on the bronzer. Its moment will come in summer, but for now, a lighter hand keeps the overall look fresh, ensuring the eyes remain the main focal point without the look tipping into ‘overdone’ territory.”
She concludes: “Princess Kate reminds us, the best beauty looks have never been about following the seasons, but however you wish to express yourself.”
