From Boston to the BAFTAs, the Princess of Wales turns emerald into a modern royal power move. Dates, designers, and how to copy the look.
The search for “Kate Middleton robe émeraude” points straight to one image that refuses to fade. On 2 December 2022 in Boston at the Earthshot Prize, Catherine, Princess of Wales, stepped onto the green carpet in a striking off shoulder emerald gown by Solace London, rented via HURR, and anchored by Princess Diana’s Art Deco emerald choker. The look matched the event’s climate mission and set social feeds alight worldwide.
That moment sits beside other emerald hits that shaped her style playbook. A deep green Jenny Packham at the BAFTAs on 18 February 2018, a glittering gown during the Pakistan tour in Islamabad on 15 October 2019, and a gleaming metallic green dress in Dublin on 3 March 2020. Different venues, the same effect. Emerald for Kate is not a one off. It is a strategy.
Earthshot 2022 in Boston : Kate Middleton’s emerald dress that defined an era
The Boston appearance delivered the clearest statement. The Solace London column dress, rented for the night, underlined sustainable fashion on a stage created to celebrate climate solutions. The choice read as deliberate and current. Rented dress, archival jewels, and a focused color story.
Princess Diana’s emerald and diamond choker, originally fashioned in the early twentieth century, turned the look into royal history on fast forward. Paired with drop earrings, it framed the neckline and pulled the eye up. The balance matters. The dress stayed sleek, the jewellry carried the drama.
The result traveled fast because the elements were simple to grasp. One saturated color, clean lines, one heritage piece. It photographed consistently under bright lights and felt modern without breaking tradition.
BAFTAs 2018 : a darker emerald by Jenny Packham
At the BAFTAs on 18 February 2018 in London, the Princess chose a deep green Jenny Packham gown while expecting Prince Louis. The silhouette flowed, the black ribbon defined the waist, and the color read as formal eveningwear, not flashy.
This was a different register of emerald. Less sparkle, more depth. The dress respected the ceremony’s tone and worked with the Royal Albert Hall’s warm red interiors. The lesson shows up in every frame. Emerald adapts to the room if the fabric stays refined and the cut stays precise.
Shimmer on tour : Islamabad 2019 and Dublin 2020
During the Pakistan tour reception at the Pakistan National Monument on 15 October 2019, she wore a sequined Jenny Packham gown in rich emerald. Under night lighting, the dress moved like water and kept its color integrity on camera. Diplomacy, but make it glamorous.
On 3 March 2020 in Dublin at the Guinness Storehouse, the Princess switched to a metallic green dress by The Vampire’s Wife. Not strictly emerald, yet close enough to prove the point. The tone favored Irish green, the fabric gave motion, and the images from the evening still surface each March.
How to recreate the Kate Middleton robe émeraude effect
The pattern across these appearances is surprisingly practical. Emerald acts as a modern neutral when the silhouette is clean, and the accessories stay intentional. That is why these looks keep returning to the top of searches.
The Boston rental shows an easy entry point. Renting elevated pieces has moved mainstream, and the Earthshot choice signalled that even black tie can meet sustainability without losing polish.
Here is the roadmap that mirrors those royal moments, without the palace budget :
- Pick one emerald tone and commit head to toe to avoid clashing greens.
- Choose a minimalist cut such as a column or fitted A line to let the color lead.
- Anchor with one statement accessory, preferably heritage or vintage inspired.
- Keep metallics focused on either gold or silver, not both in the same look.
- For evening, opt for satin or fine sequins that photograph well under bright lights.
- Consider rental platforms for occasionwear to echo the Earthshot approach.
The enduring picture that search keeps serving up is not an accident. Emerald flatters on stage, in motion, and under flash. When Kate Middleton pairs that color with streamlined tailoring and a single storied jewel, the look crosses from dress into narrative. That is why the robe émeraude keeps winning clicks and why the timeline matters : 2018 refined depth, 2019 shimmer diplomacy, 2020 tour green, 2022 sustainable showstopper. Different nights, one consistent message of modern royal style.