Kate Middleton Becomes Latest Fan of Thrifty Royal Fashion Hack

Kate Middleton proved on Sunday she’s become a fan of a frugal royal fashion trick to make wardrobe staples last longer when she attended the annual British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) and wore an altered version of a previously worn evening dress.

Kate attended the BAFTA ceremony with Prince William and wore an asymmetrical pleated chiffon evening gown that she had previously worn to the same event in 2019, with Bow With Flowing Tails.

This isn’t the first time Kate has worn an altered version of the same dress years apart. The princess wore an elegant floral print McQueen dress that featured an open neckline and slim straps to the 2017 BAFTA ceremony. She wore the dress again in 2019, this time with updated cap sleeves.

Changing parts of their wardrobe to be reused speaks to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ commitment to the environment. The fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters, according to the UN, and when it comes to the annual Earthshot Awards, each year Kate has either re-worn existing pieces from her closets or, like in 2022, borrowed a dress for the occasion.

Altering couture pieces for reuse also appeals to the royal budget. Although the princesses’ wardrobe money is unknown and only rough estimates can be made of the cost of her outfits, it is far more economical to convert an existing piece for reuse than to buy a new one. It may also reflect the current cost of living crisis that Kate has decided not to wear an extravagant new dress for Sunday’s BAFTA ceremony.

Kate has joined a long list of royal recyclers, with a number of royal women spotted on official dates wearing slight twists on old fashion staples.

Here, news week shows five times how royal women wore, altered and re-worn existing pieces from their impressive fashion collections.

The Princess of Wales, BAFTA 2019/2023

For the 2019 BAFTAs, Kate Middleton wore a new white chiffon evening dress with an asymmetric neckline and a pleated bodice that falls into a sheer skirt. There was a rosette corset detail on the shoulder of the gown and the regal accessory was simply embellished with diamonds and pearls so as not to detract from the delicate features of the gown.

For the 2023 BAFTAs, Kate brought back the pleated white McQueen, but this time she showed how a slight change and a dramatic collection of accessories can complete a garment. The princess’ black, opera-length gloves added a touch of risk and glamor to the altered corset detail, which replaced the previous rosette with an oversized bow with flowing tails.

The Princess of Wales, BAFTA 2017 and National Portrait Gallery 2019

Kate Middleton made her debut at the 2017 BAFTA Awards in a stunning Alexander McQueen gown, which consisted of a tiered floral print skirt, banded ties and an elegant fitted bodice.

The royal wore the dress again in 2019 at an event at the National Portrait Gallery in London, this time with some expertly tailored alterations to the bodice, neckline and sleeves. The cap sleeves made the dress more appropriate for the non-red carpet gallery event and was widely praised in the fashion press.

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Princess Diana, Qatar 1986 and Savoy Hotel 1989

Princess Diana was known for using her wardrobe to deliver messages, but also to use and wear the pieces she loved.

In 1986, the Princess had her friend and designer Catherine Walker create a couture gown in blue embroidered silk with a chiffon waist and train. The dress was made for a visit to the Middle East with Prince Charles, and out of respect for local customs, the princess had all of her dresses made to fit the modest line, with high necklines and long sleeves.

When the king returned home, she had Walker take the blue dress back and alter it to remove the high neckline and sleeves, leaving her with a sweetheart neckline that exposed her arms and shoulders.

Princess Diana, United Arab Emirates 1989 and Korea 1992

Another dress Diana made for a visit to the Middle East was lilac crepe with a bodice heavily embroidered with roses and English flowers.

For the tour, the dress was made with a full taffeta skirt, which the princess cut away when she returned home, retaining the embroidered bodice, and had a simple column-cut dress made to wear underneath.

Diana wore this altered version of the dress on a visit to Korea in 1992, her last with Prince Charles before their official split.

Princess Anne, London 1980s

Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, is known for being one of the most frugal members of the royal family, especially when it comes to her fashion.

During the 1980s, Anne had a range of dresses made with detachable bodices or sleeves to make more revealing evening wear for reuse.

The Princess still wears coats and dresses that have been carefully stored in her wardrobes at her Gatcombe Park home, more than four decades after she was first worn.

James Crawford Smith is Newsweeks royal reporter based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.

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