Simone Ashley

~ for BAFTA afterparty via Nikki Wolfe on Instagram

Catherine's Statement Gown

Now that BAFTAs this year are over and the question many of us were waiting to see has been answered -- what will Catherine wear -- I want to comment on her white Jenny Packham evening gown which has shown up on two different BAFTA awards now.

h/t @the-empress-7 for this tweet pic

BAFTA 2019:

This and the James Bond premiere gold dress are Catherine's top regal looks IMO. I remember thinking she looked like an Empress walking with William up the red carpet but especially down into the auditorium. The Duke/Duchess of Cambridge were announced, the curtain at top of steps opened and the BAFTA audience went silent as she glided down the steps, head high. Why? #Empress vibes. William walked slightly behind her most of the way and just let her shine. Princess Grace of Monaco is the only other royal I can recall with this level of beauty/presence, and on this occasion Catherine out-Graced even Grace Kelly. Have a look:

I watched some of their other BAFTA arrival clips to refresh my memory, and 2019 was different. BAFTAs were in February 2019, and as we learned early March 2019, rumors had been circling in society alleging William was having an affair. Catherine reminded everyone she was the one and only royal Duchess of Cambridge, with her Duke smiling beside her and at her back all the way.

BAFTA 2023:

This time Catherine wore the re-worked Jenny Packham white gown as Princess of Wales. Social media accounts concerned Catherine was spending too much on new clothing hopefully welcomed her choice. (Shoutout to @honeytothebee and @the-empress-7 whose Tumblr posts always manage to comment on Catherine's wardrobe and the Wales family with wit and wisdom without sounding like either critics or sycophants. Ladies, you are a pleasure to read.)

Her ensemble has been analyzed in other threads, so I''ll just note that Catherine's 2023 look reflected an evolving chic personal style and was on trend.

Congratulations for our Austrian boii ✨💐

Actress and Board member of BAFTA North America, Alexa Jago at the BAFTAs. Highlights, cut & curl. Hair by Heinz Schumi. . . . . #baftas #baftas2023 #film #movies #moviemagic https://www.instagram.com/p/CpAPXkvIuWs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Best Dressed 2023 BAFTAs Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci. #baftas2023 #bestdressed #lavender #lilac #jodieturnersmith #gucci @gucci https://www.instagram.com/p/Co-CEMWOBD1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Best Dressed 2023 BAFTAs The Banshees of Inisherin’s Barry Keoghan in Alexander McQueen #thebansheesofinisherin #baftas2023 #barrykeoghan #alexandermcqueen #bestdressed https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8DpS9vqFT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Best Dressed 2023 BAFTAs Everything, Everywhere All at Once’s Michelle Yeoh in Christian Dior Couture, Florence Pugh in Nina Ricci by Harris Reed, The Whale’s Hong Chau in Erdem, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Angela Bassett in Pamella Roland, The Woman King’s Viola Davis in Michael Kors, and Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales, Catherine recycling her Alexander McQueen 2019 BAFTAs gown. #baftas2023 #bestdressed #michelleyeoh #everythingeverywhereallatonce #christiandiorcouture #dior #florencepugh #ninaricci #harrisreed #hongchau #erdem #angelabassett #blackpantherwakandaforever #pamellaroland #violadavis #thewomanking #michaelkors #princewilliamofwales #catherineprincessofwales #alexandermcqueen https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8CjBhvJq7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=