It’s business as usual for the royal family following last week’s dramatic arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor; for Catherine, Princess of Wales, that business is glamour.
For the first time in three years, Catherine attended the British Academy Film Awards, or BAFTAs, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Prince William is the president of the organisation, and the couple arrived on the red carpet hand-in-hand, in co-ordinating outfits.
Catherine’s prom night Gucci dress, with a V-neck bodice, a sheer chiffon overlay in a dessert-tray assortment of pinks, and a plum-coloured velvet belt, was pulled from her own archives, having first been worn in 2019 at a gala dinner at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Catherine turned to her own wardrobe again for accessories, wearing the Greville Chandelier earrings, created by Cartier for Dame Margaret Greville, who gave them to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. They became favourites of Queen Elizabeth II, who received them from her parents as a wedding gift and wore them throughout her reign.
A stylish united front was anchored by Prince William’s velvet tuxedo jacket from Giorgio Armani, in the same rich shade as his wife’s belt.
Fashion has become a welcome distraction for the royal family, with King Charles last week attending the opening show of London Fashion Week, while Queen Camilla met with Vogue’s Anna Wintour at Clarence House.
While Catherine and William stole the show on the red carpet, Australian actress Rose Byrne was among the supporting cast of celebrities, wearing a romantic yellow chiffon gown embroidered with dégradé crystals.
“It’s my first time at the BAFTAs, so the look needed to be memorable,” Byrne told Vogue. “And while the influence of Miuccia Prada is unsurpassed, bringing intellect and rigour to clothes, there is something so fun and fresh about Miu Miu.”
Byrne was nominated for her Golden Globe-winning role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You but missed out on carrying home another award, with Jessie Buckley taking home the best actress BAFTA for her role in Hamnet.
Buckley joined Tilda Swinton, Maya Rudolph and Gracie Abrams in outfits from Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy’s debut and pre-fall collections.
“He is a singular, vibrant artist and I love how he’s been marrying the past with something so present and alive,” Buckley told Vogue. Her blue velvet dress was a nod to the cinematic work of the late US film director David Lynch.
“It’s a nod to his wild and wonderful worlds, but also something classic and unique and cool.”
Best supporting actress nominee Teyana Taylor tonally tuned in to William and Catherine’s colour chart in a custom plum silk trench dress from Burberry.
The corseted creation featured a collar crafted to resemble a rose.
While Catherine’s look was vintage Gucci, presenter Alia Bhatt selected a custom silver backless gown from the label’s current creative director Demna.
If Catherine had shopped from the new collection, it could almost have been a case of: ‘Who’s Andrew?’ Almost.
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