Although it has been announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales will not be attending this year’s Baftas due to it coinciding with the school half-term holidays, Kate has certainly delivered some of her most memorable style moments at the event.
When it comes to royal fashion, Kate is the queen of sustainability, and her appearances at this particular glamorous showbusiness gathering have further cemented her status as a style icon with a conscience.
Always in Alexander McQueen, she has followed a sartorial pattern by time and again proving there is no need to buy new when you can upcycle or recycle.
Only once has she deviated from this – in 2018 when tradition was broken in a once-worn Jenny Packham maternity frock.
Of course, she has the advantage of having an extensive collection of show-stopping gowns to turn to – and whether it’s changing the accessories or her hairstyle, she repeatedly makes her red carpet look seem fresh, even if the outfit is a decade old.
In 2020, Bafta announced a sustainable dress code and one guest who particularly embraced the ceremony’s theme was the princess.
Wearing a gold embroidered Alexander McQueen gown that was previously seen in Malaysia, she proved that the right dress has the power to make a style statement on more than one occasion.
From her 2011 debut in lilac Alexander McQueen to the 2023 ceremony, the princess has kept with her trend of recycling pieces from her considerable personal archive.
After a three-year hiatus, the Princess of Wales returned to the red carpet looking ethereal in an upcycled, white, one-shoulder gown from Alexander McQueen with black opera gloves and ornate Zara earrings. Kate previously wore the original version of the dress to the 2019 BAFTAs, however this year the gown was reworked with a new bow detailing that draped down over her shoulder
For the 2020 BAFTA Awards the dress code called for attendees to wear a garment that was either sustainable or recycled and Kate chose a white Alexander McQueen gown adorned with glamorous golden tones. It was a look she originally wore back in 2012, for a state dinner in Malaysia and with its embroidered trim and flowy silhouette the elegant creation felt just as timeless and current as ever
Forgoing her usual airy and dreamy dresses for a more modern take, the princess was a style standout for the BAFTAs in 2017, appearing elegant and edgy in an off-the-shoulder black dress punctuated by a floral motif. Two years later, Kate wore a re-worked version of the dress for the National Portrait gala with more demure cap sleeves
For her first BAFTAs appearance at a reception in Hollywood, Kate opted for a lilac Alexander McQueen dress, which has since become one of her most iconic looks. The newlywed wore the Grecian draped evening gown which was designed by Sarah Burton who was also responsible for her wedding dress. A decade later it was recycled for the Earthshot Award ceremony in London, although this time with a different belt
Kate had the bodice of the Alexander McQueen dress she first wore to the 2017 Baftas reworked in 2019, giving the gown a whole new lease on life, as well has having her 2019 Baftas gown altered for the same ceremony four years later.
It was with this recycled look at the ceremony in 2023 that Kate cemented her sustainability when she stepped out in her striking gown complete with cascading draping added at the shoulder.
Giving the dress a contemporary twist, the royal updated the look with a dramatic black sash and modern accessories, proving her knack for reinvention.
With the addition of a pair of opera gloves, she brought an extra dose of old-Hollywood glamour to the evening.
The Princess of Wales, who was forced to miss the ceremony last year due to her cancer treatment, has consistently shown her ability to balance tradition with modernity, and sustainability with glamour.
Her Bafta red carpet gowns, each with its own unique story of recycling and reinvention, serve as a testament to her impeccable taste and forward-thinking approach to fashion.
