Princess Kate fashion site - What Kate Wore https://whatkatewore.com The go-to source on Kate's style for fans, fashion writers, trend watchers. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:19:03 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 https://whatkatewore.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-whatkatewore-logo-final-02-1-32x32.jpg Princess Kate fashion site - What Kate Wore https://whatkatewore.com 32 32 It's a Royal Purple Jenny Packham Gown for "Digger" World Premiere https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/22/its-a-royal-purple-jenny-packham-gown-for-digger-world-premiere/ https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/22/its-a-royal-purple-jenny-packham-gown-for-digger-world-premiere/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:48:52 +0000 https://whatkatewore.com/?p=90713 The Princess of Wales chose a chiffon gown by Jenny Packham for tonight's Royal Film Performance world premiere of “Digger.”

The glittering event was at London's ODEON Leicester Square theater. Below is a video of the couple arriving. 

More about the event via this Daily Mail story. 

The last Royal Film Performance was the premiere of Gladiator II in November 2024, which was attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The King is patron of the Film and TV Charity, which benefits from royal premieres. 

Tonight's event is the 73rd Royal Film Performance in the organisation's 100-year history.

The charity provides support to those across the film, television and cinema industries, many working behind the scenes, with everything from mental and physical wellbeing to financial support. This includes a 24/7 helpline, free counselling and financial grants.

Digger's big star is Tom Cruise, seen below arriving for tonight's premiere.
The movie was filmed in the UK at Pinewood Studios. Warner Brothers describes the plot this way: "The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything."

Others walking the orange carpet tonight included Sophie Wilde. 
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Actress Sandra Hülle, who plays Tom Cruise's sister in the film, Emma Rockwell.
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Actor Riz Ahmed (R) and his mother, Mumtaz Ahmed.
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Actress Emma D'Arcy. 
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Director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
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Jesse Plemons, who plays the United States Vice President in the movie. 
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And John Goodman, who plays the President. 
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Among the notable names attending, but not appearing in the film, actress Hannah Waddingham.
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Actress Jodie Turner-Smith.
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 Actress Salma Hayek.
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Another look at the Princess as the royals arrived. 

More about tonight's events via this piece in The Telegraph.

Speaking about the Prince and Princess before their arrival, Cruise said: “I just love them. They are lovely people and I have great respect for them.”

He escorted the Princess up and down the stairs at the entrance of the Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square, first holding her arm and then her hand. It marks a reunion for the trio, who attended the Top Gun: Maverick premiere together in 2022.

The Royal Film Performance World premiere is in support of the Film and TV Charity.

The actor greeting the royals.

As The Daily Mail pointed out, "It was something of a reunion for the couple and Cruise, 64, who met at the UK premiere of his hit film Top Gun: Maverick in May 2022." 

Here is a video shared by Rebecca English of The Daily Mail. In the video, the couple is escorted by Marcus Ryder, chief executive of the Film and TV Charity, and the organization's chair, Claire Tavenier.

Another view of the Prince and Princess. 

Mr. Cruise leads the Princess into the theater.

This angle gives you a good look at the back of the gown.

The couple posed with the film's director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Mr. Cruise.

The foursome looked like they enjoyed chatting.

The Princess smiles at her husband.

The Prince and Princess spoke with the film's stars and producers.

The Princess with Mr. Cruise and Ms. Wilde.

A quick video of the Princess speaking with the cast and producers.

A wider shot gives you a better view of the group greeting the royals.

Once inside, the Princess was given lovely flowers. 

We learn more from this Daily Mirror article. 

The Princess was also presented with a posy and a programme by Evie Peters, seven, while four-year-old Sahrae-Lea Herbert, four, gave the Prince as programme. Both girls, who had been waiting excitedly for them, executed beautiful curtseys. The Princess of Wales said: "Thank you for my lovely flowers."

The Daily Mail's Rebecca English shared some darling videos of the girls waiting for the royals and practicing their curtsies. 

The royals posed for a photo with Sir David Beckham and two of his sons, Cruz, and Romeo. We learn more about the evening's fundraising element from the Daily Mirror story. 

Inside the cinema, the Royals were introduced to a line-up of beneficiaries from the Film and Television Charity including Chloe Malone, 27, who only last year was sleeping rough and is still in temporary accommodation but is about to embark on a production course at the National Film and Television School thanks to the charity.

She praised it for "saving" her, and William for his work to eradicate homelessness.

Another look at the Princess. 

Now for our review covering what Kate wore for tonight's premiere.

The dress appears to be a custom version of a design from the Jenny Packham A/W 2016 collection. The original design was crafted in grape silk chiffon, with a deep V-neck, cold-shoulder balloon sleeves, a cutout on the upper back, oodles of pleats, a concealed back zipper, and a full, flowing skirt with a short train. Among the changes to the Princess's gowns: the sleeves appear essentially closed with a cape-effect shoulder, and the back cutout is not as deep as in the original gown.  

The style reminded several of us chatting online of the diaphanous blue design worn for the SPECTRE premiere in 2015. 

The Princess wore her hair partially pulled back. 

Making it easier to see the Collingwood diamond and pearl earrings that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, and her heirloom necklace.

The Court Jeweler calls it the Queen Mother's Amethyst Sautoir Necklace. It was commissioned by Queen Alexandra and gifted to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, according to the "History and Lives of the British Royals" Facebook page.  That page describes it as "three rows of petite pearls interspersed with large oval amethysts surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds, terminating in a large heart-shaped amethyst and diamond pendant."

Below, the necklace is shown in a 1923 display of wedding gifts for the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in September 1923, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother then gave the necklace to Princess Elizabeth, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The current Queen wore a shortened version of the necklace in 2012 for the premiere of Skyfall at Royal Albert Hall

The Princess accessorized with two pieces first noted in December 2018, when she paired them with a tweed Erdem dress. Both are by Jimmy Choo. The bag was a made-to-order design, and the heels were either the Bordeaux velvet Romy Pointy Toe Pumps or the Anouk Pointy Toe Pumps. We never decided exactly which pair it was, and tonight I made no progress on that quest because the gown covered the heels.

I will leave you with one more photo of the Princess from tonight's premiere. 

]]> https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/22/its-a-royal-purple-jenny-packham-gown-for-digger-world-premiere/feed/ 101 The Princess Showcases British Brands for Isle of Bute Engagements https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/17/the-princess-showcases-british-brands-for-isle-of-bute-engagements/ https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/17/the-princess-showcases-british-brands-for-isle-of-bute-engagements/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2026 20:59:48 +0000 https://whatkatewore.com/?p=90653 The Duchess of Rothesay (as the Princess of Wales is titled in Scotland) visited the Isle of Bute today with the Duke of Rothesay.

The Isle of Bute is about 90 minutes west of Glasgow, including the ferry ride.

The couple's first stop was at the Bute Shinty Club in Rothesay. This is their first visit to their namesake town.

Shinty is one of Scotland's oldest traditional sports, played here for generations. The couple met senior and youth team representatives and spent time with volunteers and former players in the clubhouse. Local community members built the clubhouse, which holds team photographs dating back to 1907.

More about the sport from this BBC piece. 

Twelve players per side use a curved wooden stick called a caman to play a leather ball. Some players choose to wear full face protective helmets throughout the two 45-minute halves.

It begins with the throw up, where the referee throws the ball in the air between two players, leaving them to wrestle for it.

It's fast, it's physical, it's traditional.

Today's engagements were designed to highlight the power of community, connection and volunteering.

The couple then went back outside to watch training exercises and meet young players taking part in the sport.

Below, the couple watch some of the younger players. 

We learn details from this Daily Mirror story. 

Kate and William watched an under-17s shinty game ... before marching onto the pitch to take part in a penalty shootout. William stepped up first, fluffed his first shot and the ball bobbled away - but he connected with the second attempt.

Kate was cheered onto the pitch by the crowd and raised her fist in the air in mock acknowledgement of their support. William l called out ‘long run up’ as Kate stepped up to take her first attempt. The princess joined in the laughter as she missed the ball entirely performing an air shot. After William suggested she take just one step up to the ball, Kate struck her second attempt cleanly.

Rebecca English of The Daily Mail shared videos of the Prince and Princess taking their shots. 

Another view of the Princess. The royals posed for selfies. 

Here you see the Princess greeting 95-year-old Jenny Salli, a Rothesay resident. 

And the royals posing with Ms. Salli.

The couple with club officials. 

And a group photo with younger players at the Club.

The Princess with a wave goodbye as this engagement wrapped up. 

The couple then traveled to Ettrick Bay, a few miles away, where they met members of Beachwater Bute. 

The charitable organization was formed in 1998; members monitor and remove marine litter from Bute's shores.

We learn more from Hello's story. 

They walked along the sand with Beach Ranger Sandra Macmillan and supporters of the charity, which has coordinated clean-up activities on Bute since 1998, to keep the coastline safe and accessible for wildlife and local people. 

Armed with litter pickers and recycled farm feed bags to hold the rubbish, they stopped to pick up bits of packaging and rope and used their bare hands to pick up finer plastic filaments from fishing gear as they heard more about the charity’s work.

Beachwatch Bute’s secretary Sue Brooks said she had offered the Princess some gloves, which she turned down. “She said ‘actually, I do this all the time’.” Catherine was “a bit hesitant” to use the litter picker, but instead, “she was in there just picking everything up and saying ‘I'll get that one’. Yeah, it was great. “It felt like you were just chatting to your pal walking along, so it was lovely.”

The couple even took a tractor ride on the beach. 

The Daily Mail's Rebecca English shared several videos from the beach engagement. 

The royals posed with volunteers for a group photo. 

It looks like the Princess made some four-legged friends. 

Another view. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Anchor Tavern Pub & Hub in Port Bannatyne.

The pub is community-owned, and a Scotsman article from this May notes it "was bought by the community in 2022, saving it from ruin. It is the village’s only pub, and the people who rescued it now sit there together and drink together too."

It is also dog-friendly, noting, "We happily accept well-behaved dogs and provide water and treats and even a dog visitor book!" The BBC reports, "Settling in for coffee and cake - as well as a half-pint of beer for William - the royals could be seen chatting with pubgoers..."

There is a community hub next door where meetings can be hosted, and there are pop-up food events, along with exhibits, workshops and other community activities. Below is a group photo at the Tavern.

The couple as they left the pub. 

After leaving the pub, the royals did a walkabout. 

The King's Guard Tours posted a video of the Princess chatting with people about what she'd like to do the next time she visits. 

The Princess with schoolchildren. And posing for a photo. 
 The Princess with another youngster. 

And now, a look at what Kate wore on the Isle of Bute today. As she often does, the Princess showcased British brands. This is perhaps even more appropriate this Thursday in September, as London Fashion Week got underway today. 

We begin with her Burberry trench coat, with thanks to Kate Middleton Styled on Instagram for the ID. You could see the brand's iconic Nova check lining in the photo above at the Shinty Club, a pattern created back in the 1920s. This is a longer-length design, the Burberry Kensington style. The trench is done in a classic double-breasted style with shoulder epaulets, buckled cuffs, a gun flap on the back, and pockets. This model below looks like it has the brand's lining on the underside of the collar, and I'm not sure the Princess's version includes that detail. Additionally, the Princess's coat looked brown to me in many photos, not black, so I will keep looking for a photo of the exact style worn today.

The Princess's sweater is not yet identified; I will update the post if/when it is. UPDATE SEP 22: With thanks to Middleton Maven for a fab find, it looks like the Princess was wearing a past-season Really Wild sweater.  The Princess is believed to have worn this sweater in black for a 2021 engagement. That version was 100% cashmere, and ribbed throughout the piece.

The Princess brought back her Holland Cooper Jodhpur Jeans ( a 92% cotton material blended with stretch fabrics in a high-rise style with a skinny fit.

She accessorized with Maison Hotel's 'Guadalupe' Belt ($189) in the Mariachi Coffee color. Made of leather, the Spanish brand's belt is described as featuring "intricate floral embroidery in tones of cream and brown, echoing the artistry of traditional Mexican textiles. The antique-style silver-tone buckle and tip bring a Western edge, while the etched detailing adds depth and refinement." A fab find by Lauren and Gabi. 

We saw the return of the Princess's House of Bruar Tweed 8-Piece Hat ($125) in green herringbone wool. 

The Princess wore a new pair of brown suede Chelsea-style ankle boots today that I am still trying to identify.

She also brought back her Lauren Pavé Diamond Leaf Drop Earrings (£3200, roughly $4300 at today's exchange rates) by go-to jeweler Kiki McDonough. 

I will leave you with one more photo from today. 

 

]]> https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/17/the-princess-showcases-british-brands-for-isle-of-bute-engagements/feed/ 65 The Flippy Wiggle Dress Returns for Royal Marsden Engagement https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/11/the-return-of-the-green-flippy-wiggle-dress-for-royal-marsden-engagement/ https://whatkatewore.com/2026/09/11/the-return-of-the-green-flippy-wiggle-dress-for-royal-marsden-engagement/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:56:42 +0000 https://whatkatewore.com/?p=90601 The Princess of Wales chose a favorite Suzannah London design for an engagement today at Royal Marsden Hospital. 

Here is a brief video from today's visit showing the Princess as she arrived and a few other scenes. 

We learn details from this piece by Hannah Furness in The Telegraph. 

The Princess of Wales has visited the hospital that treated her cancer to “give back”.

The Princess, who had chemotherapy and is now in remission, told the team at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London that she was “really, really grateful on a personal level” for the support she received during her recovery.

She previously undertook the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for the hospital, saying she had been “blown away” by the response.

Here you see the Princess as she completed the Three Peaks Challenge in July.

The Princess visited the hospital to learn how funds raised through her Three Peaks Challenge hike are being used. Below, the Princess with Sir Douglas Flint, the hospital's chair.

Some readers may recall that the Princess is a Joint Patron of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, along with the Prince of Wales, a position she took on in 2025 after her own cancer treatment. We go back to The Telegraph's story. 

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is developing The Centre for Holistic Wellbeing and Recovery, with the Princess hearing how her fundraising will help. Speaking to Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of the hospital, the Princess said: “This was my small way of being able to give back and say thank you to you.

“I had incredible care here and support from a huge team, and I’m really really grateful on a personal level.”

She added: “The holistic care, the treatments, and therapeutic support on the outside is so important. It makes a big difference.”

Rebecca English of The Daily Mail shared videos from today's visit. 

The Princess spoke with patients and staff.

Below you see her with Hassane Charafeddine, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pain Management and Western Medical Acupuncture (2nd from left), Grace Maynard, a breast cancer patient (white top), and Sarah Adomah, Lead Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist (far right).

The Princess chatted with Sam Suriakumar, who receives treatment at the hospital.

We learn more from this Daily Mail piece. 

She spoke to Sam Suriakumar, 41, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour six years ago about the effect a cancer diagnosis has on their children and families. The patient has two daughters, aged five and three. Catherine, mother to Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte, told him: ‘It’s amazing how resilient you can be.’ 

He said afterwards: ‘She is such a humble human being. I felt we were able to connect because of our cancer journeys and because of our kids. 

'We were speaking about how our kids having to go through that as well and how they gave us the inspiration to keep pushing forwards.'

We return to The Daily Mail article. 

‘It becomes not about the fun stuff in life, the things that pretty it up. For me it was about my daughters, my wife, my family and the time that I get to spend having those experiences with them. 

'And she seemed to find the same as well. It’s funny because I think a lot of cancer patients you talk to, that becomes so important. It becomes like a cheat code to life.'

He said the princess didn’t go into detail about the moment she told her own family, but added: ‘It was such a key priority for her as a human, as an individual. ‘

Another patient the Princess spent time with is Mike Collett. He is being treated for head and neck cancer.

The Telegraph story has details on their conversation. 

Mike Collett, 74, who has been treated for head and neck cancer and has largely lost the use of his vocal cords. The holistic care “helped me massively”, he said.

The Princess said: “Cancer changes so much of you. It’s not just the physical changes your body is going through, it’s not just about providing support during the treatment, it’s raises so many issues. It’s living your life beyond. Everything changes.”

Mr Collett explained how his cancer had destroyed his vocal cords and damaged his windpipe which he found particularly difficult to deal with after a career as a broadcast journalist.

“The help with the counselling was identifying the grief I felt at losing my voice,” he said.

The Princess remarked: “Something so primitive like breath becomes so precious. The psychological impact that might have, the vulnerability to something so essential. And the ability to be able communicate and share your story.”

While visiting the Marsden, she specifically mentioned breathwork – a technique to consciously control breathing as part of mindfulness – while hearing a list of holistic therapies, which also included physiotherapy, acupuncture and aromatherapy.

Another patient the Princess met is Hasna de Four.  

Ms. De Four was diagnosed with breast cancer twenty years ago, and she has lived with secondary breast cancer for more than ten years.

On her Instagram page, she wrote about feeling a connection to the Princess.  

I feel a special connection to HRH The Princess of Wales through our shared experience of receiving care at The Royal Marsden. Like so many patients, we know that The Royal Marsden cares for the whole person, not simply the disease. I am incredibly inspired by the Princess taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge. The funds raised will help create a new centre for holistic wellbeing and recovery at The Royal Marsden.

Here you see the Princess with Chief Nurse Mairead Griffin (L) and Chief Medical Officer Sanjay Popat (R). 

We now turn to our look at what Kate wore for her Royal Marsden engagement.

She brought back her Flippy Wiggle Dress in Emerald ($3800) by Suzannah London.

The garment is made of Italian crepe in a shirtdress style based on “a late 1940s Wiggle Dress, which we have re-cut to have it skim over the bodice with a fluid, gentle, soft movement throughout the skirt, from the hips to the hemline.” It features pintucks at the waist and yoke, navy silk-covered buttons, and a thin self-belt. It was first worn for a May 2023 engagement at the Anna Freud Centre. 

The Princess also owns the dress in white and has worn it on at least five occasions.

The Princess repeated her Camilla Elphick 'Lucia' slingback in black. The style features a pointed toe, an angular 3" kitten heel, and the brand's distinctive pearl-embellished circular buckle on the adjustable ankle strap. The shoes were first noted in July of this year. 

In the jewelry department, we saw the return of Mappin and Webb's 'Empress' Pendant and Earrings.

Here is one more photo of the Princess from today's engagement. 

A sidebar to wrap things up on this 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks: a video of the Coldstream Guards during a commemorative changing of the guard today at Buckingham Palace. The Guards played the US and UK National Anthems, Hymn to the Fallen (from Saving Private Ryan), and Amazing Grace. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester took the Royal Salute on behalf of the King.

If you would like to watch the entire ceremony, it is available on YouTube. 
 

 

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