It’s Victoria Beckham for British Fashion Awards and ‘Catherine’s Rose’ Announced

The Princess of Wales chose a Victoria Beckham suit for today’s presentation of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

Today’s British Fashion Council awards ceremony was at London’s 180 Studios, “a network of production and exhibition spaces that supports emerging talent and provides a platform for creative growth.”

The award “was initiated in recognition of the fashion industry’s role in society and diplomacy and to spotlight young designers who are talented and making a difference to society through sustainable practices or community engagement.”

You may recall that the late Queen presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to Richard Quinn in 2018 during London Fashion Week.

In 2022, the Duchess of Cambridge presented the award. 

The winner that year was designer Saul Nash. 

Other royal family members have presented the award, including King Charles.
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The Duchess of Edinburgh. 
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And the Princess Royal. 
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Previous winners have included Alexander McQueen and Erdem.

Today’s ceremony showcased all of the talent support initiatives of the BFC Foundation, a charity run by the British Fashion Council.

This year’s winner is Patrick McDowell, a Liverpool-born, London-based designer.

The Patrick McDowell site notes, “Our collections are crafted from materials that are kinder to the planet and in ways that keep our makers and our clients in mind. We make-to-order pieces that fit and suit you perfectly. Designed and made in London, we work with the best artisans and cutters to create special collections from the finest materials. Each garment is made available in a limited quantity and individually numbered.”

Below, the designer, with his mother and the Princess.

More from this story in the Daily Telegraph.

“It’s such an honour to receive something like this, especially from the royal family,” McDowell told The Telegraph, adding that it feels like a “full circle moment”. The designer received a scholarship from the BFC to attend Central Saint Martins, and the brand they have since formed has always focused on British craftsmanship, working alongside the King’s Foundation scholarship students.

A key element of the brand’s own code is circularity. It’s become known for limited-edition, made-to-order pieces crafted from planet-friendly materials in London. Each is intentionally designed to last, but there are also redesign and repair services available to maximise longevity.

A closer look at the award.

Below is a sampling of some of this spring’s styles by Mr. McDowell: from left to right, the Elenore Dress, the Apollo Trouser, the Hades Dress, and the Aristaeus Blazer.

The jacket worn by Mr. McDowell to accept the award today is crafted from “…a leftover Burberry Prince of Wales check – the very fabric donated for McDowell’s graduate collection, neatly connecting past to present…” per this piece in The Industry.Fashion. 

McDowell introduced the royal to seamstresses from his studio, and he presented designs including a feathered, fuchsia floor length kaftan-shirt and a lime green slip. She was then joined by Chioma Nnadi, head of British Vogue, and former BFC CEO Caroline Rush, to meet a selection of London’s top young designers.

 

McDowell, the designer known for his high camp, incredibly sustainable practice, tells The Standard he is “incredibly honored and humbled to have won” and that the moment marks “a game changing step forward for the brand.”

Another view of the Princess with today’s winner.

More from this People article by Simon Perry. 

Designer Clio Peppiatt, who spoke with PEOPLE after meeting the royal at the event, says, “She has such a huge influence on women and what women want to wear. She is very stylish and always looks impeccably turned out.”

The designer, 34, added that her influence has a trickle-down effect on the entire industry.

“A lot of the time, fashion is not seen at the same level as other arts and creative practices, so to have that support from the very top, it elevates the whole industry,” she says.

This image shows the Princess with British Fashion Council CEO, Laura Weir (soft green jacket), and designer Connor Ives.

Now, let’s look at what Kate wore.

The Princess chose a look by Victoria Beckham for today’s award presentation. The Patch-Pocket Jacket ($1250) is a signature style for the brand, a single-breasted style done in a polyester/wool blend with a touch of elastane for stretch and ease of movement.

The blazer features notched lapels, shoulder pads, a center back vent, and the distinctive front pockets. It is in stock at Victoria Beckham ($1250), as well as at Nordstrom ($1250), Selfridges ($995), Italist ($875, vminimalsizes), Cettire ($870, very limited sizes), Bergdorf Goodman ($1250), and Farfetch ($1201).

The Princess paired the jacket with Victoria Beckham’s Alina Trouser ($750). The trousers are made of the same material as the jacket, with a high waist, straight, wide-leg silhouette, a front zipper, belt loops, and “front and back patch pockets drawing on 1970s-style references.”

The trousers are in stock at Victoria Beckham ($750), Farfetch ($620), Nordstrom ($750), and Bergdorf Goodman ($750). 

The blouse is by Knatchbull, the brand’s Cascade Ruffle Blouse ($595) in 100% sandwashed silk satin. This photo offers a better look at the front of the blouse. 

The blouse showcases a cascading ruffle down the front with elongated, fluted cuffs.

Knatchbull is the only women’s tailoring shop on Savile Row—more from this Fashion United story. 

Daisy Knatchbull, founder of Knatchbull, said: “The name Knatchbull represents not just my legacy, but the legacy we’re building together – a world where women have access to the same sartorial power and confidence that tailoring has traditionally offered men.

In the past five years, the brand has dressed more than 2,500 global clients, hosted trunk shows throughout the UK, Europe, and the US, and expanded its signature Made to Measure service with the introduction of a bridal service and a ready-to-wear offering.

Thank you to Royal British Fashion for their speedy ID work today! 

The Princess accessorized with the Celia Pumps ($750) from Ralph Lauren, which we have seen at recent engagements, a point-toe style in calfskin with a 4″ heel in a colorway called “Ralph Lauren Gold.”

And the late Queen’s Bahrain Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings, so-named because the pearls in the earrings were a wedding gift from the ruler of Bahrain to Princess Elizabeth for her wedding.

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Also today, the Royal Horticultural Society announced this weekend they have named a new rose after the Princess of Wales, “to celebrate the incredible healing power of nature and raise awareness of the important role that spending time outdoors plays in bringing us joy and supporting our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.” Below, “Catherine’s Rose.”  

Harkness Roses bred the rose, and £5 from the sale of each rose plant will be donated to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity—more from a Kensington Palace news release below.  

Clare Matterson, RHS Director General, said: “As well as supporting the incredible work of The Royal Marsden, Catherine’s Rose will raise awareness of how nature and gardening can help to heal.  We know how important this message is as every day we see how accessing nature and being outside is vital for our health and happiness. 

“Crucially too, Harkness Roses has done a wonderful job breeding this spectacular rose that is going to bring so much joy to all our nation’s gardeners and keep our precious pollinators buzzing too!  It’s a really special rose.”

This graphic, via the RHS, has more background on the rose.

The rose will be displayed for the first time at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which will run from May 20 to 24. The Royal Marsden noted, “We are honoured to have Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales as joint Patrons of our specialist cancer centre and we are very grateful to The Princess of Wales and the RHS for setting up this initiative and for the benefit it will bring to cancer patients everywhere.”

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Staying with the nature theme, yesterday, Kensington Palace released a video narrated by the Princess of Wales, kicking off Mental Health Awareness Week. Here is the message preceding the video. 

SPRING.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we are celebrating humanity’s longstanding connection to nature, and its capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.

As we confront the challenges of an increasingly complex and digital world,… pic.twitter.com/lmxzxJUsiO

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 12, 2025