Some beauty trends simply have the gravitational pull of a black hole. Haemorrhoidcream for puffy eyes? Wrong orifice. Others, on the other hand, have the Princess of Wales. The Japanese manicure, it seems, belongs firmly in the latter category.
At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, stepped out with what we're describing as a manicure meet-cute. Both opted for healthy, glossy, almost-bare nails – also known as the Japanese manicure – which, as it goes, is a major trend at the mo'.
Over the years, the Princess of Wales has become something of a poster girl for the Japanese manicure, and now, Sophie appears to have taken a page from the same impeccably buffed playbook.
Now, let's get one thing straight: despite endless rumours of "protocol," there is no official rule banning colourful nail polish in the royal family. The misconception largely comes from Queen Elizabeth II's long-standing preference for neat, neutral shades – famously a sheer pink – because they were timeless, elegant and never distracting. Over time, that personal preference evolved into an unofficial house style.
Enter: The Japanese manicure, a salon technique all about embracing the natural nail, with a focus on healthy, glossy, well-shaped tips rather than layers of colour or elaborate designs.
"The treatment is designed to strengthen and improve the health of your nails using ingredients like beeswax and sea minerals," celebrity manicurist Sophia Stylianou previously told Cosmopolitan UK. UV lamps be gone! Acetone soak-off, who? Just your nails, but better!
Everyone's clicking on...
"Instead, the nails are gently buffed to create a smooth, glossy finish that looks naturally shiny and healthy," Sophia explains.
Better still, while plenty of salons offer the service, it's wonderfully low-maintenance and surprisingly easy to recreate at home. Just invest in a nail care kit (file, tweezers, cuticle oil and co.), and you're good to go!
If it's good enough for the royals...
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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.
