Celeb Style

Fit for a princess: Catherine, Princess of Wales’ best evening gowns of all time

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They say a picture paints a thousand words, but in Catherine, Princess of Wales, case it might be more accurate to say her dresses paint a thousand words – and boy are they a best seller.

Ever since she married Prince William, the royal style icon also known as Kate Middleton has taken royal duties in her stride – and she’s done so in serious style.

What with her luscious brunette locks, that stunning smile and an immaculate sense of grace and ease everywhere she goes, the future Queen Consort of England could wear a rubbish bag and still look incredible.

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That’s why we, her not-so-royal counterparts, can’t help but delight every single time she steps out in a new gown.

And as we look ahead to another year of glitz and glam for the divine princess, we thought it imperative to remember and relish all her best evening gowns from over the years.

Because why cheat our eyes from the pure joy in seeing a real life royal being, quite simply, magical?

Keep scrolling as we take you on a journey through Catherine’s most glamorous moments, beginning with the ‘reimagined’ gown she’s worn to the 2023 BAFTA Awards.

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01

This stunning Alexander McQueen gown that Princess Catherine donned for the 2023 BAFTA Awards was actually worn by Kate to the BAFTA’s in 2019, but you wouldn’t have guessed! She has ‘upcycled’ the look by adding the bow detail to the strap and accessorising with long black gloves and earrings that were a Zara purchase! See below for the 2019 look, to see the original dress in comparison.

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02

Kate was a vision in white when she attended the 2019 BAFTA Awards in a beautiful one-shoulder gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen – and Prince William didn’t look so bad either!

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03

Stepping out with Prince William for the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, the 41-year-old royal opted for a sleek black column gown with a contrasting white off-the-shoulder detail by designer Roland Mouret.

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04

There was only one word to describe Catherine in this Phillipa Lepley gown: heavenly. The luxurious turquoise satin gown was the highlight of a glamorous reception hosted by the Bahamian Governor General during her and William’s 2022 royal tour of the Caribbean.

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05

This Jenny Packham number stole the show when Catherine arrived at a reception in Jamaica on day five of the tour. She paired it with gold, diamond and emerald jewels on loan from the Queen.

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06

Catherine was a vision in pink sequins in this The Vampire’s Wife gown during an evening engagement in Belize at the beginning of the royal Caribbean visit.

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07

The princess pulled off one of the most noteworthy red carpet moments of 2021 when she showed up to the James Bond movie No Time to Die premiere in this gold Jenny Packham dress. Its embroidered cape and architectural shoulders are one of her boldest looks and most successful gowns.

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08

Catherine repurposed this emerald column dress by her favourite, Jenny Packham, for the 2021 Royal Variety Performance. She first wore this elegant piece during her 2019 royal tour of Pakistan.

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09

Does this dress look familiar? The Duchess is famous for recycling some of her gorgeous designer outfits and she did just that with this stunning Alexander McQueen gown. She wore it before at the BAFTA Awards in 2017 and donned the frock again for the Portrait Gala 2019 at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

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10

Pretty in pink, Catherine attended the annual 100 Women in Finance event looking every bit the Princess she is in a Gucci gown. Keep the gowns coming, Kate!

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11

Once again, Kate’s second tiara moment for 2018 at a reception dinner at Buckingham Palace in 2018 had us transfixed. This time, she opted for a stunning Jenny Packham frock.

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12

Attending a State Banquet in Buckingham Palace in 2018, we were treated to a highly-anticipated tiara moment from the royal. Her divine fishtail gown by Alexander McQueen was also a showstopper.

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13

We all did a double take when we first clapped eyes on Kate as she attended the 2018 Tusk Awards in a floor length blue Jenny Packham gown – the reason? We’ve seen it on her before! And it looked just as stunning on her the second time around.

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14

And she did it again! The very next year, to be exact. Princess Catherine, who was six months pregnant with Prince Louis at the time, stunned at the 2018 BAFTA Awards in a moss green Jenny Packham gown.

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15

With her husband being named president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), it’s no wonder Kate glammed things up a notch for the BAFTA Awards themselves in 2017. Her off-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown was a standout on Britain’s night of nights.

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16

A vision in white! Princess Catherine’s light Self Portrait ensemble worn to the A Street Cat Named Bob film premiere in 2016 was a red carpet standout.

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17

Opting for a bold palette, Catherine opted for a Tory Burch maxi dress while attending an evening soiree on her royal tour of Bhutan and India in 2016.

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18

The name’s Kate… A red carpet natural, Catherine attended the premiere for the new James Bond film, Spectre in a sheer long-sleeved Jenny Packham dress.

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19

Those locks! The Princess of Wales looked stunning in yet another Jenny Packham gown for the Portrait Gala in 2014.

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20

Switching things up from her ravishing floor-length gowns, Kate opted for an off-shoulder Barbara Casasola gown as she attended an awards ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum.

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21

What’s a princess without a little sparkle? Kate the Great shone once again as she attended the Tusk Conservation Awards in 2013 in a sequined Jenny Packham dress shortly after giving birth to Prince George.

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22

Her first year as a royal was off to a roaring start, and in 2012, Duchess Catherine kept the goods coming. She wore this gorgeous custom Alexander McQueen gown in white with gold detailing while visiting Malaysia – what a vision!

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23

Okay, we might have spoken to soon – this might be our favourite look of all time. Wearing one of her go-to designers Jenny Packham, this embellished floor-length gown was pure heaven on the duchess as she attended the ARK 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner in 2011.

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24

In what might be one of our favourite looks of all time, the duchess wore this ethereal Alexander McQueen number to a BAFTA Awards event in LA, circa 2011.

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25

Attending an awards event at the Imperial War Museum again in 2011, Princess Catherine’s strapless black velvet Alexander McQueen gown was utterly divine.

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26

And as you’re about to see, 2011 was the year of the gown for Catherine. This stunning Jenny Packham number worn to a reception and dinner at St. James’s Palace was worn by the royal not long after her royal wedding – and it set the precedent high.

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27

Let’s go back to where it all began – Princess Catherine began her life as a picture perfect royal from the get go when she wore this stunning satin gown and angora bolero cardigan to her second wedding reception. Her dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creator behind her stunning wedding dress.

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