Duchess Sophie's beachy curls and golden tan lines proved she nails the fresh-off-holiday aesthetic

Duchess Sophie’s beachy curls and golden tan ahead of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s wedding is still giving us summer inspiration.

If you’re eager for inspiration for how to style a bob then look no further than the Duchess of Edinburgh. She might be known for her mid-length blonde tresses right now, but over the years Duchess Sophie has been a huge fan of short bob hairstyles and she hasn’t been afraid to switch up her look. From Duchess Sophie’s shaggy bob look to her auburn pixie cut, the senior royal has favoured both textured and sleek hairstyles. However, when it comes to spring/summer looks, it doesn’t come much more beautiful than Duchess Sophie’s beachy curls

Wavy hairstyles are popular for a reason, though we don’t often see the Duchess of Edinburgh with curls. She had them in April 2021 for a pre-wedding dinner at the Mandarin Oriental ahead of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s big day and her hairstyle was fabulously voluminous.

Going for her favourite side-parted hair look, Duchess Sophie’s hair fell to the nape of her neck and framed her face in bold, big waves. The top layers of her hair had a tousled appearance to them whilst lower down, the soft curls looked slightly more defined. Instead of choosing to have pristine, polished curls, Duchess Sophie’s hairstyle had a beachy feel to it with a lot of texture.

Shop Essentials For Beachy Curls

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

RRP: £26 | For gorgeously tousled hair or to enhance beachy waves, this sea salt spray is a styling essential. It helps to add texture, volume and all-important hold to your hair and can be used both on damp and dry hair depending on your preference.

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Extra Strength Hairspray

RRP: Was £9.99, Now £7.19 | If you want your beachy waves to stay perfectly in place and not loose their volume or texture, then hairspray can make all the difference. To help preserve your curls it's worth incorporating this extra strength hairspray into your styling process.

ghd Creative Curl Tapered Curling Wand

RRP: £139.99 | Whatever kind of curls you want to create, if you want a heat styler then this is a brilliant option to consider. It's great for creating loose beachy waves and curls that really last and is lightweight and easy to use.

Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cream

RRP: £15.75 | If you have naturally wavy or curly hair then this could be the product for you. This cream helps to style, define and soften all types of curls and provide fabulous volume.

Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray

RRP: £19.45 | This dry texture spray helps to give your hairstyles long-lasting hold, as well as extra bounce and volume. Whether you want to accentuate your curls or create a tousled look, why not try adding this into your routine?

WetBrush Pro Detangler Brush

RRP: £13.99 | If you add waves using heat styling tools and want to loosely brush out your hair afterwards, or simply want to control any tangles, this is perfect. It effortlessly detangles wet or dry hair without breaking your delicate hair strands.

Although Prince William and Kate got married in April, the Duchess of Edinburgh’s hairstyle wouldn’t have looked out of place in the summer. Beachy curls like this are so flattering and legendary hair stylist Adam Reed previously told woman&home that waves are "always in fashion and so popular" simply because they’re "undeniably chic".

"That wavy, beachy hair looks effortless and is usually quite easy to create once you have the hang of it. Think back to Brigitte Bardot, a young Kate Moss, and Sienna Miller’s Boho trend – they were all about the soft kinks and bends, those effortless waves that aren’t too uniform or too rigid," Adam declared.

With one of the best curling irons you can easily recreate a similar look, although it’s important to prep your hair if you’re interested in how to make your curls last longer. Adam believes that this is “absolutely key” and recommends “a blow-dry spray or lightweight mousse” if you’re using heat styling to achieve your waves.

Duchess Sophie’s beachy curls looked especially lovely with her golden tan which shone through in snaps taken of her arriving for the dinner. Although she didn’t go on holiday immediately before the wedding, her tan and bright blonde hair evoked a sense of holiday glow and looked stunning with her dress.

For this special occasion the Duchess of Edinburgh went all out in a floor length red gown. It featured elaborate fold over details across the bodice rising up elegantly into two wide straps and she even coordinated her nail polish with the vibrant scarlet hue. Duchess Sophie’s base makeup was fresh and light, allowing her tan to do all the talking. She added a touch of her signature dark eyeliner, and finished off the outfit with some magnificent white and yellow diamond jewellery pieces.

In recent years the Duchess of Edinburgh has tended to leave her hair quite straight and often opts for a practical updo, but her tousled loose waves were so glamorous back in 2011. We can’t help feeling this hairstyle deserves to make a reappearance - especially when the warmer weather returns this summer.