There are two kinds of twinning. The first is the accidental variety, when you and a colleague arrive at the office wearing the same Breton stripe and spend the next hour insisting it was entirely unplanned (the unofficial uniform of people who spend 40 hours a week together). The second is the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte variety, where, sure, genetics do half of the heavy lifting, but Disney's hair department could have workshopped the rest. Hereditary hair goals.
Over the weekend [1 August, 2026], the royal pair attended the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games where they debuted what can only be described as matching fairtale hair. Same honeyed blonde colour, same waist-skimming length, same glossy, loose curls that looked as though they'd been blown dry by woodland creatures rather than a Dyson. Rapunzel, eat ya heart out!
The only noticeable difference? Catherine opted for her signature side part, while her 11-year-old daughter, Charlotte, wore a centre parting. Consider this the beauty equivalent of the millennial-Gen Z divide: skinny jeans vs barrel legs, avocado toast vs Dubai chocolate, side vs middle part. It's a rite of passage and one that doesn't discriminate against Royals, clearly.
Of course, this isn't the first time the Wales women have mastered the art of #twinning. They've previously coordinated everything from half-up braided hairstyles to complementary aquamarine outfits at the 2025 Trooping the Colour. Like mother, like daughter, hey?
And while Charlotte is, of course, following in her mother's footsteps, she's also paving her own way as one of the most notable beauty figures in royal circles. Not because she's launching a skincare line (yet), but because she seems to understand the power of a subtle beauty moment. Case in point: having bent a long-standing royal beauty tradition by stepping out with a playful wash of colour on her nails. Tiny manicure, surprisingly outsized conversation. Natch.
So, if history tells us anything, Charlotte is the monarchy's next big beauty mogul. Call it nature, call it nurture, call it an exceptionally good blowdry. Most likely, it's all three.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
