Every Time The Princess Of Wales Has Reworn A Dress On The Red Carpet
The Princess of Wales has long been a champion of repeat-wearing (a practice that’s still relatively rare on the red carpet, even today, with the likes of Cate Blanchett being rare exceptions). In her early years as a royal, she was photographed wearing the same gown within the space of a few months – proving to all of us that you really don’t need to buy a new dress for that event you’ve got coming up.
Of course, Kate now has the advantage of having an extensive archive to turn to – including show-stopping gowns from the likes of Jenny Packham and Alexander McQueen. Whether it’s changing up the accessories or her hair-do, she always manages to make her red-carpet looks seem fresh, even if the dress is a decade old. The Princess actually had the bodice of the 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.
Given the remarkable influence that the Princess has, her red carpet rewears send out a powerful message about the importance of sustainability in fashion. After all, the most eco-friendly choice you can make, sartorially speaking, is to wear what you already own.
Below, see every time the Kate has recycled a dress on the red carpet to date.
Getty Images1/122012 and 2013
Kate opted for a cream Roland Mouret gown for a dinner at London’s Claridges, before re-wearing the same dress for the premiere of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom a year later.
Getty Images2/122012 and 2013
The royal wore a black lace gown by Temperley at the War Horse premiere and later at the screening of a David Attenborough documentary.
Getty Images3/122014 and 2014
Kate debuted this tulle Jenny Packham gown at a dinner at Kensington Palace in 2013. A year later, she re-wore it at the National Portrait Gallery gala in February (left) and the St Andrews 600th anniversary dinner in New York in December (right).
Getty Images4/122011 and 2016
For her first official engagement as a royal, Kate stepped out in this shimmering Jenny Packham gown for a gala dinner at Kensington Palace for children’s charity Ark. She recycled the dress for a gala dinner in Norfolk for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices five years later.
Getty Images5/122014 and 2017
The Princess opted for a black lace gown by Diane von Furstenberg to attend the Royal Variety Performance while pregnant with Princess Charlotte. She re-wore the dress for a gala dinner for the Anna Freud National Centre while pregnant with Prince Louis.
Getty Images6/122012 and 2018
Kate first wore this teal gown by red-carpet go-to Jenny Packham for a gala dinner ahead of the London Olympic Games, before re-wearing the dress at the Tusk Awards.
Getty Images7/122017 and 2019
The Princess opted for a floral off-shoulder gown by Alexander McQueen for the BAFTAs, before wearing a re-worked version of the dress for the National Portrait gala two years later.
Getty Images8/122012 and 2020
The royal debuted this embroidered Alexander McQueen gown during a tour of Malaysia. She recycled the same dress for the BAFTA Awards eight years later, in keeping with the ceremony’s sustainable dress code.
