In December, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene stepped out for a Christmas-themed event, and she publicly debuted a new haircut. The haircut is… very dated. It’s basically a ‘90s skaterboy haircut, half-shaved and half-long. Many people said at the time that it was a Cry For Help Haircut, and soon enough, we learned why Charlene was struggling. It turns out that Prince Albert is due in Italian court on a paternity claim. I’ve lost count of how many paternity suits Albert has had over the years but it’s A LOT. I kind of believe that he’s got additional kids out there who we don’t even know about because he quietly paid off the mothers. Anyway! Going back to Charlene’s hair, most of us thought the cut was a tragedy, but Charlene has given an interview and she says it wasn’t any kind of visual S-O-S.

Monaco’s Princess Charlene doesn’t care what you think about her buzzcut. The royal is opening up about her dramatic new “half-hawk” haircut in a new interview on Wednesday with French magazine, Point de Vue, saying that was her “decision.” And that once the shock wore off, her husband Prince Albert has grown to like it!

Charlene, who turns 43 on Monday, debuted her new look on December 16 at the Palace’s annual Christmas party. Asked whether as a public figure she has found a way of dealing with the criticism that followed, she launched into a quick defense.

“This haircut was my decision,” she responded. “It seems that it has provoked all kinds of comments. But it turns out that I wanted it for a long time, the style pleases me. That’s all.”

Describing herself as an uncommon princess, she continued, “Certainly, of all the members of royal families, I’m probably the one who has tried the most different hairstyles, and I’ll continue. That’s my choice.”

The royal, who in the past has addressed criticisms branding her as distant and “unsmiling,” says she was prepared for strong reactions to her dramatic style change. “Of course. The remarks of ‘But what is she doing?’ and ‘But it’s not royal!’ — I know these all too well. And I have nothing to say to them, except that we’re in 2021 and that in these times which are so troubling, so difficult, there are other, much more important subjects which deserve our attention. What counts is that Jacques and Gabriella adore seeing their mother with her new style. And that after the initial surprise wore off, the prince understood and likes it now too.”

[From People]

I can’t stop imagining if Duchess Kate or Duchess Meghan did something this dramatic with their hair. We wouldn’t be able to stop talking about it for weeks, and there would be literally hundreds of thinkpieces about hair, women, feminism and “royal protocol.” And Charlene’s like “screw you guys, I did it for myself, end of.” Good for her if it’s something she’s always wanted and she honestly DGAF. But I also sort of believe that it’s still a cry for help, or at the very least, a very public screw-you to her husband and to Monaco in general.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.