How to Achieve Kate Middleton’s Preferred Manicure Look

For her wedding manicure, Kate, Princess of Wales, opted for something very natural with a subtle hint of pink. The final result actually came from two different shades of nail polish. Queen Camilla organized a pre-wedding manicure for herself and the bride-to-be right before the wedding, and invited expert Marina Sandoval from the Jo Hansford salon over to her home, Clarence House, where Sandoval gave Kate and Camilla a manicure. 

To give Kate’s nails that perfect, subtle tone, Sandoval used the polish Bourjois Rose Lounge 28 and Essie Allure 423. While the Bourjois polish, a pale pink, has since been discontinued, the Essie Allure 423, which is more of a rose gold, is widely available. 

Sandoval told the Daily Mail that Kate wanted something subtle for her bridal nails. “Catherine wanted something very natural looking and I felt these matched her skin colour beautifully. She wanted something off-white and bridal, so these were absolutely perfect.” And the bride-to-be loved the results. “[Kate] was very pleased with the result and told me that it looked beautiful and elegant,” Sandoval added. “I can’t wait to see the result when Prince William places his ring on her finger.” 

Even after her wedding, Kate favored the pale pink manicure, so much so that it’s become her go-to nail look. The late Queen Elizabeth II loved a similar shade, opting for Essie’s Ballet Slippers, a subtle, understated pink tone. The key to making these neutral manicures look elegant is the nail prep that goes into the manicure. According to the Daily Mail, Marina Sandoval groomed and tended to the bride-to-be’s hands before applying her wedding manicure. Sandoval soaked and exfoliated Kate’s hands, then did a deep tissue massage, followed by filing and buffing the nails before applying the polish. 

To file and shape nails, use a fine-grit file, preferably glass, and file the nails in one direction. Going back and forth can cause micro-tears in the nails. Be mindful of the shape you want, be it square tipped or oval, and move the file accordingly. Once you’ve filed the ends down, use a buffing block to smooth the edges. After this, you can apply your polish, and if Kate’s manicure is any inspiration, it’ll be something delicate and neutral.