The Princess of Wales has made a triumphant return to the BAFTAs after a two-year hiatus.
Kate Middleton looked every inch the fairytale princess in an ethereal, off-the-shoulder chiffon gown as she arrived on the arm of her dapper husband, Prince William, who coordinated in a velvet burgundy tuxedo jacket.
The Princess of Wales last wore the Gucci evening gown at the 100 Women in Finance gala dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum in February of 2019. Her chestnut curls cascaded over her shoulder and Catherine appeared to look particularly bronzed, suggesting the Wales family might have recently returned from a sun-soaked half-term break.
Kate Middleton
Samir Hussein
But the most eye-catching detail? Undoubtedly the Greville chandelier earrings dazzling at her ears. Crafted by Cartier between 1918 and 1929, the pair boast an exquisite Art Deco design, fashioned with modern cut diamonds and set in platinum.
They were originally owned by Margaret Greville, a society figure who was a close friend of Queen Mary. When Greville died, the earrings were part of an extraordinary collection of jewels that were bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It was she, along with her husband King George VI, who decided to gift the earrings to the then Princess Elizabeth on her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.
Appreciating their exquisite design, the Greville chandelier earrings became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, when she wore them on several occasions.
But the most eye-catching detail? Undoubtedly the Greville chandelier earrings dazzling at her ears
Samir Hussein
More recently, however, they have enjoyed a new royal admirer: the Princess of Wales, who has chosen these dazzling diamond for a number of black and white tie occasions. Among the most memorable outings was the 2023 Diplomatic Corps reception, when the Greville jewels proved the perfect accessory for her glittering Jenny Packham gown and Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara.
When the couple missed last year’s awards ceremony, there were questions over whether the date clashed with the half-term holidays of their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince William has attended the awards show on eight occasions since being appointed President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in 2010. His most recent appearance was in 2024 – a ceremony that was missed by Kate Middleton as she recovered from surgery. In 2021, Prince William missed the show as it was held the day after the death of his grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Prince of Wales is always dapper in his tuxedo but all style mavens know it is the Princess of Wales who brings the glamour. As the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate first graced the red carpet in 2017 in a bespoke Alexander McQueen gown and wavy-cut Prada sandals. She returned for outings in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2023, returning to McQueen for all but one of these outings: in 2018, while pregnant with Prince Louis, Kate Middleton wore an emerald green creation by Jenny Packham.
The 2026 appearance marks the Princess of Wales’ first BAFTA outing in Gucci and a rare turn in the designer for the royal, who tends to re-wear a handful of key British labels, like McQueen and Packham.
It is set to be a starry evening. The singing voices behind the global phenomenon, KPop Demon Hunters, will perform their chart-topping hit “Golden,” and award-winning British singer songwriter Jessie Ware will perform a special tribute during the ceremony’s In Memoriam.
BAFTA is a leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally.
Originally published in Tatler
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