Last Updated:February 23, 2026, 09:19 IST

Kate Middleton rewore her Gucci chiffon gown and paired it with historic Cartier Greville earrings, blending sustainable style with royal glamour at the BAFTAs.

Kate Middleton’s BAFTA comeback is timeless elegance at its finest. (Images: X)

Some entrances are about spectacle. Others are about the story. At the BAFTA Film Awards, the most compelling fashion moment arrived not in novelty, but in legacy. After a brief hiatus, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, stepped back onto the red carpet with the kind of polish only history can provide – each detail steeped in heritage, each piece carrying memory.

On the arm of Prince William, Prince of Wales, the evening felt less awards ceremony and more modern fairytale.

The foundation was soft and cinematic: a flowing chiffon gown by Gucci in raspberry and rose tones. Off-the-shoulder and whisper-light, the silhouette moved like air, cinched neatly with a burgundy velvet belt that echoed William’s coordinating jacket. The choice to rewear the design, first seen in 2019, added an intentional note. In an era of constant newness, Kate Middleton’s repeat signalled confidence. The message was clear: true elegance doesn’t expire. Loose chestnut waves, bronzed skin and minimal makeup completed the look, letting the fabric – and the jewels – do the talking.

Then came the detail that stopped conversations. At her ears: the legendary Greville chandelier earrings, created by Cartier between 1918 and 1929. Crafted in platinum and modern-cut diamonds, the Art Deco design delivered architectural brilliance.

Their provenance reads like a chapter from royal lore. Once owned by society hostess Margaret Greville, the jewels were later bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who eventually passed them down as a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II. Decades later, they found a new custodian in Kate. Against the softness of chiffon, the diamonds blazed – sharp, luminous, unforgettable.

Kate’s BAFTA formula felt deliberate: rewear fashion, archival jewellery, and timeless tailoring. Sustainability met sovereignty. Romance met restraint.

Meanwhile, William mirrored the palette in a deep red velvet evening jacket by Emporio Armani; the couple visually aligned without looking rehearsed. In a sea of contemporary gowns, it was this balance of past and present that lingered longest.