The 74-year-old royal stepped out with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

Princess Anne stunned royal watchers at Tuesday evening’s French state banquet by abandoning her iconic beehive hairstyle for the first time in years.

The Princess Royal arrived at Windsor Castle sporting a glamorous voluminous side bun, marking a dramatic departure from her signature teased French twist.

The 74-year-old royal, who attended the white-tie event alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, has famously maintained the same hairstyle for decades.

Her unexpected transformation sparked immediate discussion among royal fans, who have grown accustomed to seeing Anne’s reliable 1970s-inspired updo at formal occasions.

Princess Anne abandons iconic hairstyle in surprise transformation.

PA / Getty

The surprising change came as the Royal Family welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle.

For the occasion, Anne chose to recycle an embellished white Maureen Baker gown with lace trim and matching bolero jacket, which she had previously worn for her 70th birthday portraits in 2020.

The Princess Royal completed her ensemble with her cherished Festoon Tiara, a diamond piece she has worn regularly since receiving it as a gift from the Worldwide Shipping Group in 1973.

She accessorised with particularly meaningful jewellery, wearing the diamond necklace and earrings that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip presented to her for her 18th birthday.

Princess Anne with her husband, Sir Tim Laurence.Getty

The white gown choice aligned with other senior royals’ decision to honour the French flag through their attire.

Anne’s dedication to her signature style has been well-documented, with the princess once revealing in an ITV documentary that her daily hairstyling routine took her “10 or 15 minutes” to complete.

The Princess Royal has built a reputation for her no-nonsense approach to royal fashion, typically favouring practical coats, sensible footwear and dresses she has worn since the 1980s.

Her reliable formula often includes recycled outfits from decades past, occasionally accessorised with a tartan scarf.

Princess Anne attending Tuesday’s State Banquet.

Princess Anne walking behind Prince William and Princess Kate.

PA

This consistency has made Tuesday’s dramatic hair transformation all the more remarkable for those accustomed to her unchanging appearance at formal royal events.

The state banquet showcased an array of historic royal tiaras, with the Princess of Wales wearing Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara paired with soft curls worn down.

Queen Camilla selected the Belgian Sapphire Tiara, featuring sapphires and diamonds, whilst the Duchess of Edinburgh opted for her delicate Wessex Aquamarine Tiara with a sleek updo.

The Duchess of Gloucester chose Queen Mary’s Teck Turquoise Tiara, adding to the impressive display of royal jewels. The coordinated white gowns worn by Anne, Camilla, Sophie and the Duchess of Gloucester represented the white of the French tricolour, with Kate and Brigitte Macron wearing red and blue respectively.