Kate Middleton Wore an Unexpected Accessory to the BAFTAs

published 19 February 2023

The Princess of Wales is no stranger to the red carpet, so you would assume that her ability to shock and awe us with her ensembles would lessen over time. That, however, was proven not to be the case this evening as Kate Middleton attended the 76th British Academy Film Awards in what might just be her most daring outfit yet.

Opera-length might have been one of the most prevalent trends on the spring/summer 2023 runways, but in terms of copying-and-pasting them into our everyday outfits, chances to do so are generally quite limited. However, I was pleased to see that Middleton made the most of the opportunity to do so at this year's BAFTAs, the first she and her husband, Prince William, have attended since 2020, tackling the trend in a way we didn't expect.

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Directly contrasting her ethereal white one-shoulder chiffon gown, which I suspect is an Alexander McQueen creation she has worn previously but has brought up to date with a cascading drape, the Princess of Wales styled her could-be-bridal attire with long black opera gloves. Of course, we've seen her wearing such gloves at formal state banquets in the past, but the clash between the white and black feels incredibly striking and fashion-forward, even for someone like Kate who knows how to assemble an outfit.

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If that wasn't enough, Middleton finished her ensemble with a pair of oversize floral drop earrings, confirming that drama was certainly the goal of this evening's ensemble. Though I half expected them to come from a high-end label, knowing that Middleton loves a Zara find just like the rest of us, I should have known these were none other than the £18 shoulder-skimmers that I had considered snapping up for my own London Fashion Week outfits.

Scroll on to shop the Zara earrings Kate Middleton wore to the BAFTAs 2023.

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Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.