The 2023 BAFTA Awards is just around the corner on February 19 and royal fans can’t wait to see what Kate Middleton will wear on the red carpet – especially after she skipped the ceremony for two years in a row.
The Princess of Wales’ last appearance at the so-called British Oscars was in 2020, when guests were urged to dress ‘sustainably’ by renting, choosing vintage, opting for something from a sustainable label like Stella McCartney or Reformation decidedly or simply re-wearing a look they already owned.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given her penchant for recycling favorite outfits, Middleton took the latter route, hitting the carpet in a white, gold-embellished Alexander McQueen gown she’d previously worn in 2012.
In this episode of The Royal Roundtable, we look back at Middleton’s gorgeous BAFTAs style over the years – which you can also revisit below – and break down 2020’s eco-conscious dress code.
2011
Just months after her royal wedding to Prince William, the then-Duchess of Sussex stunned at the BAFTA Brits to Watch event in a bespoke purple gown by Alexander McQueen, the same fashion house behind her bridal gown.
A decade later, she brought back the same dress (with a new gold belt instead of the white version) for the 2021 Earthshot Prize Awards.
2017
For her debut appearance at the BAFTA Awards alongside Prince William, Middleton once again chose a design by Alexander McQueen – this time a strapless black dress with a floral print and a floor-length tiered skirt.
Two years later, she added cap sleeves to the style and wore it to a gala at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
2018
The pregnant queen chose an empire waist Jenny Packham dress in a deep shade of green for the 2018 red carpet – the same year all other guests dressed in black in support of the Time’s Up movement. The decision, while controversial, was in line with royal protocol, which bans members of the monarchy from making political statements – and many took the black velvet bow of her appearance as a subtle acknowledgment of the movement.
2019
Returning to her beloved McQueen in 2019, Middleton opted for an asymmetrical Greek-style white gown that delivered great bridal vibes.
2020
In line with the 2020 event’s sustainable dress code, the Queen chose a white and gold Alexander McQueen gown that she had previously worn to a 2012 state dinner in Malaysia. The look is embroidered with gilded hibiscus blossoms in honor of the country’s national flower.
