Duchess of Edinburgh gets a bob at 61 – the perfect age for a hair transformation

Annabel JonesFri, July 3, 2026 at 1:38 PM UTC

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The Duchess at Lady Louise Windsor’s graduation from the University of St Andrews - University of St Andrews

The Duchess of Edinburgh debuted a new bob haircut at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival at Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire, on Wednesday, proving that if you have the right hair for this classic style, it can be transformative.

At 61, the Duchess has a good head of hair to begin with, full and in great condition, which (without exception) all celebrity hairdressers say is the key to a great cut.

The Duchess’s new style is the work of her regular hairdresser, Cristiano Basciu from Richard Ward’s Hair and Metrospa, where the Duchess has been a client for nearly two decades.

He says: “The bob is very on-trend for this summer. To keep it soft and flattering, the back needs to be gently graduated to create volume. It is chic and easy to wear and its versatility means it can be worn with beach waves or as a demi-chignon for red carpet events.”

While we don’t know why the Duchess chose to have her previously shoulder-length hair cut now, she was pictured on Thursday celebrating her daughter Lady Louise Windsor’s graduation from the University of St Andrews – a milestone she may have wished to mark with a fresh hairstyle.

Pushing style boundaries

The Duchess’s soft bob treads the tricky line of carefree and polished, a formula that fits a modern royal style code, one that the Princess of Wales has made her signature.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has cleverly always managed to look appropriate while pushing the conventional royal style envelope.

She made headlines when she wore a bespoke Emilia Wickstead jumpsuit to Royal Ascot in 2018, becoming the first royal woman to wear anything other than a dress to the event.

In June, she raised a few eyebrows when she wore a backless dress in Lisbon, to attend a garden party at the UK ambassador’s residence.

The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a backless dress in Lisbon in June

There are practical reasons for having a bob too. With temperatures soaring lately, lopping off several inches is a smart move.

Long hair can be a sticky affair at any age, particularly when the weather is hot, but for a woman in her 60s when hot flushes can be bothersome and hair gradually begins to thin, there’s often a real need to settle on an above-the-shoulder style.

“As hair naturally becomes finer with age, a well-cut bob can instantly make the hair appear thicker while drawing attention to the jawline and cheekbones,” says Elena Lavagni from Neville Hair & Beauty.

The It-cut of the summer

Whatever the impetus, there’s much that can be learnt from the nuances that make up the Duchess’s chin-length cut, a style she last had back in 2011.

An iteration on the Nineties fluffy bob that social media has hailed the “It” cut for summer, the Duchess’s update couldn’t be more timely.

Honey Bowman from John Frieda’s Mayfair salon, who has cut a swath of bobs for summer on women of all ages, says she employs minor tweaks that can modernise a classic bob, making it softer and easier to style.

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“Some invisible face-framing, where we slice into the sections either side of the face, will give subtle definition and shape to an otherwise boring one-length bob,” says Bowman.

Then, if you have thick hair like the Duchess’s, Bowman suggests chopping into the ends to take out some of the weight. “These little tricks help the cut to sit nicely and not appear too heavy and wide at the baseline.”

The Duchess of Edinburgh pictured this week sporting her new bob while carrying out royal duties at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh - Jane Barlow

Opting out of a fringe or chunky layers is wise – raising the hem of your haircut to meet your chin is statement enough, suggests George Northwood, the Duchess of Sussex’s former hairstylist. “Don’t be tempted to go too far in one go. A bob can easily turn frumpy if there’s too much going on.”

However, if you have fine hair, it’s best to steer clear of layering. Even light layering can thin it out even more. “For women with thinner hair, at Neville we would generally recommend avoiding heavily layered bobs, as too much layering can make the hair appear even finer,” says Lavagni. “Instead, a blunt or softly graduated shape can create the appearance of greater density and fullness.”

How to style it

The way your bob is worn is equally important. “When you’re styling your bob, little moments like tucking one side behind the ears helps to lend an honesty to the style. These things are imperceptible to an untrained eye but key to it not appearing harsh or old-fashioned,” says Northwood.

Then there’s the colour, which should never be discounted if you’re cutting this much off in one go. “You might want to go softer if it’s a precise cut or lighter if the texture is loose and relaxed.

“Whatever you choose, hair colour is something that should be considered at the same time,” says Cetera Lamb, creative director and master colourist at John Frieda.

The Duchess of Edinburgh tucked one side of her bob behind her ear at a pre-wedding reception for Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall in 2011 - Mark Cuthbert

Moreover, a blonde with multiple tones as seen on the Duchess gives actual thickness (peroxide swells the hair cuticle) along with the illusion of definition and volume that comes from avoiding one solid block of colour.

The older your hair gets, in some ways the less styling intervention it needs (hair health is priority if you’re trying to inject youth back into your hair).

A blow-dry spray that protects it from the heat is key, along with a mousse or volumising spray at the roots for lift and to finish some sort of spray, either for hold if your hair is flyaway, or for shine if it’s prone to frizz, especially in the heat.

The soft bob styling kitFor volume

Pantene Perfect Volume Heat Protection Hair Mousse with Biotin, £3.60, Boots

For frizz and heat protection

Colour Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, £29, Selfridges

For hold

Hair by Sam McKnight Modern Hairspray, £29, Look Fantastic

For shine and shape

Hershesons Almost Everything Cream, £20, Hershesons

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