Princess Kate made a radiant return to the BAFTAs red carpet on February 22 with Prince William by her side, and style analysts say her thoughtfully assembled ensemble conveyed a strong message about the Royal Family’s direction.
The Princess of Wales attended the 79th British Academy Film Awards at Royal Festival Hall in London, marking her first appearance at the event in three years. She chose a blush pink, floor-length Gucci gown she had previously worn to a 100 Women in Finance gala at the V&A Museum in February 2019, pairing it with a burgundy velvet clutch and shimmering silver shoes.
However, the standout element was her jewelry. Kate wore the Greville Chandelier Earrings, an extraordinary Cartier set created between 1918 and 1929. They originally belonged to Dame Margaret Greville, who left them to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1942. Queen Elizabeth II later made them one of her cherished pieces.
On her wrist, Kate chose Queen Mary’s Diamond Bar Choker Bracelet, a distinctive Art Deco design from the 1920s. First crafted for Mary of Teck, the bracelet showcases a geometric diamond pattern emblematic of the Jazz Age. Kate initially borrowed it in 2015 for a state banquet in honor of President Xi of China.
Fashion specialist Lisa Talbot told the Daily Mail that Kate’s appearance was hardly accidental amid recent controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The arrest dominated news coverage in the lead-up to the ceremony. Andrew was detained at Wood Farm, his home on the King’s private Sandringham estate, on his 66th birthday. He was released after roughly 11 hours of questioning and remains under investigation.
Prince William matched his wife in a dark red velvet jacket, complementing Kate’s velvet belt and clutch. Their coordinated appearance marked their first joint public outing since the arrest.
Kate last joined William at the BAFTAs in 2023. She skipped the 2024 event due to cancer treatment, leaving William to attend alone as President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The couple did not attend the 2025 ceremony.
Inside the venue, Kate chatted warmly with Emily Stillman, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee, about her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and their increasing enthusiasm for movies. Stillman recalled their 2013 visit to Warner Brothers studios in Hertfordshire, telling Kate, “Last time I saw you, you were pregnant with George and you were doing your Harry Potter spells.”
Kate mentioned that her children would be excited to explore the studios. “They love the idea of going behind the scenes and finding out how it all happens,” she said.
Prince William revealed that Kate had an emotional reaction to “Hamnet,” which was nominated for Best Film. He shared that the movie left her in “floods of tears.”
Kate admitted that watching it the night before may not have been wise. “I ended up with very puffy eyes,” she said, describing the film as “really very very powerful” and praising its “fantastic” and “raw” score.
When asked whether he had seen “Hamnet,” William explained why he hadn’t yet. “I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment.”
The prince and princess walked the red carpet, where Sir Kenneth Olisa, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, greeted them. They mingled with stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close, and Ethan Hawke. Scottish actor Alan Cumming hosted the black-tie event.
Their appearance offered a moment of glamour and stability for the Royal Family during a challenging period. Kate’s decision to wear heirloom jewelry from the late Queen Elizabeth II together with a reused Gucci gown balanced respect for tradition with modern sustainability—a hallmark of her role as the future Queen.
