The Princess of Wales debuted a striking new look this week—but not everyone was kind about it.

On Thursday, September 4, Kate Middleton appeared at the Natural History Museum in London alongside Prince William, revealing a fresh blonde hairstyle that UK media quickly dubbed “regal blondette.” It marked a bold departure from her trademark brunette locks and was the couple’s first joint public outing in nearly two months.

But while many praised the princess’s lighter hair, online trolls flooded social media with cruel speculation. Some accused Kate of wearing a wig, mocking her for what they described as “unnatural volume” and extensions. Others even went as far as to compare her new style to “Party City wigs.”

The harsh comments struck a nerve with Sam McKnight—Princess Diana’s legendary former hairstylist—who rushed to Kate’s defense.

“I am shocked, horrified, dismayed, and disgusted by all the nasty comments about the Princess of Wales today,” McKnight wrote in a passionate Instagram post. “A woman’s hair is very personal to her, it’s armor, defense, confidence, and so much more.”