As excited as we are for the Top Gun: Maverick movie (read: Tom Cruise's greatest ever role), last night at the red carpet premiere in Leicester Square, The Duchess of Cambridge was the only person we couldn't take our eyes off of.

And as it goes (cue the humble brag), with our office being located in the hubbub of the square, we may or may not have caught a glimpse of the stars with our very own eyes. *Insert Kim Kardashian peeking from behind a bush meme*.

Prince William and Kate Middleton did a Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi special, wearing coordinating monochrome outfits and as much as we love Kate's show-stopping dress, the look would not be complete without her sleek hairdo. Keeping it simple yet elegant, K-Mid's hair has been styled straight with a middle parting. Just look at that shine:

london, england may 19 catherine, duchess of cambridge attends the royal performance of top gun maverick with prince william, duke of cambridge at leicester square on may 19, 2022 in london, england photo by karwai tangwireimagepinterest
Karwai Tang//Getty Images

For a more refined and polished look, her tresses have been tucked ever so perfectly behind her ears and also placed very meticulously behind her shoulders. It's giving us major Bond girl vibes.

london, england may 19 catherine, duchess of cambridge r speaks with tom cruise at the royal film performance screening of top gun maverick in leicester square on may 19, 2022 in london, england photo by david m benettdave benettwireimagepinterest
David M. Benett//Getty Images

And here's a look at the 'do from behind:

london, england may 19 prince william, duke of cambridge and catherine, duchess of cambridge attends top gun mavertick royal film performance at leicester square on may 19, 2022 in london, england photo by samir husseinwireimagepinterest
Samir Hussein//Getty Images

Interestingly, just by looking at the ends of Kate's locks, we can tell that in order to achieve this look, Kate has opted for a blow-dry instead of having her hair straightened. This is because the ends of the hair flick inward, which is usually carried out by blow-drying with a round brush. See a very similar tutorial on how to master the round brush technique here. The more you know, ey!

Everyone's clicking on...

Now don't mind me, for I am off to go and practise this look that is clearly fit for a Princess.

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Lia Mappoura
Beauty Writer

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.