WhenKate Middletonstepped onto the green carpet in a coordinating lime dress for the Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony, there was no mistaking the royal as one of the evening’s VIPs.
“The green dress was such an eye-popping color, it had so many echoes of the late Queen to me,” Bethan Holt, fashion director atThe Daily Telegraphtells PEOPLE. “To do something so unexpected and carry it off, it was such an amazing fashion moment.”
While this was Kate’s lime green debut, it was actually one ofQueen Elizabeth’s signature shades. The late Queen wore a bright green ensemble in 2016 for her 90th birthday (her appearance went viral on social media with the hashtag #neonatninety). She also wore a similar hue of green forPrince HarryandMeghan Markle’s wedding in 2018 and at several key occasions since, such as Royal Ascot.
Kate Middleton and Prince William at the Earthshot Prize 2022.Mike Coppola/Getty
Queen Elizabethwas known for the rainbow of colors in her wardrobe, andSophie, the Countess of Wessexexplained why wearing bright shades was such an integral part of her working life in the 2016 documentaryThe Queen at 90.
“She needs to stand out for people to be able to say, ‘I saw the Queen,’ " she said.
All the more important for the monarch — who was just 5'3” in height — and her love of hats was partly for the same reason: to add height and color!
The Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2016.Starmax/Newscom/Zuma
“I loved how she teamed a very accessible rental dress you can hire for £74 with a priceless emerald choker — that was such a brilliant high-low moment,” notes Holt.
Prince William and Kate Middleton.Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Earthshot
“Everyone had been craving a big jewelry moment since she became the Princess of Wales, wanting to see some amazing new piece of jewelry from the royal vaults, and I think she delivered that at a really impactful moment,” says the British fashion journalist and author ofThe Duchess of Cambridge, A Decade of Modern Royal Style.
Kate Middleton and Princess Diana in the emerald and diamond choker.Karwai Tang/WireImage; Anwar Hussein/Getty
“Her new penchant for trouser suits is great because I think it puts her on a more equal footing with William,” says Holt. “Visually when you see them getting off the plane together, both in tailoring, both ready to get to work, there’s no decorative duchess anymore — it’s the power princess.”
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“She’s a decade or more into her royal life, she’s really found her feet and she’s going for it,” says Holt. “She’s embracing the power of royal fashion!”
source: people.com
