Packing a punch! The Princess of Wales knows the power of a Packham moment — often worn for royal tours, awards ceremonies, overseas weddings and special occasions — the royal beauty never fails to wow in Jenny Packham’s beaded ballgowns, sequin frocks and couture cocktail dresses.
Kate embraces Packham’s romantic vintage aesthetic — the London based dressmaker creates captivating bridal gowns, enchanting resort styles, splashy sequin evening wear and whimsical tulle dresses. The 58-year-old launched her namesake line in 1988 and has also designed costumes and film clothing.
While the princess has a solid track record of looking party perfect in Packham’s finest — she also wears the British designer’s creations for momentous personal occasions like the births of all three children–Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
In the future, it’s likely the Princess of Wales will don more glittery gowns from her go-to evening wear designer.
Here are 20 of Kate Middleton’s Most Stunning Jenny Packham Evening Gowns:
- Pink Princess
Kate wore this pearlescent pink Packham gown to a gala dinner in June 2011. The eye-catching blush gown features sparkly rose Swarovski crystals on a mesh overlay. Pretty chiffon sleeves made this mermaid dress feel romantic and modern.
2. Timeless in Teal
Not one for tight or constricting gowns with structured bodices or boning, Kate wore her signature flowy draped chiffon evening gown from Packham for the second time at an awards ceremony in November 2018. The teal ‘Aspen’ dress has a sheer lace back, delicate lace cape sleeves and a matching Swarovski beaded belt.
3. Green Queen
Rivaling any Hollywood starlet, Kate looked sensational in an embellished green gown from her favorite evening wear designer. The floor length ‘Tenille’ was Kate’s dress of choice for a Royal Variety performance in 2021 — glossy green beads and a tonal crystal embellished belt made this dress one of Kate’s greatest hits.
4. High-Low Heartbreaker
Around 3 months pregnant with Princess Charlotte, the royal mom wore a light aqua colored gown for a fancy outing. The princess donned an elegant Packham with a wrap front neckline and envelope skirt for a Wildlife Photography awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London in the fall of 2021. The baby blue dress was a standout in Kate’s typical modest couture cache and had the glamour of a red carpet dress with a flirty peek-a-boo mini skirt. The men in grey suits were left shook.
5. White Hot
For a state banquet in November 2022, the princess and mom of three executed the impossible — not spilling anything on her cotton colored cape dress. The Elspeth ivory gown marked a turning point for the royal who added one more Queen-in-waiting garment to her Windsor wardrobe as she prepares to ascend to the throne.
6. Disco Fever
Shining on the red carpet like a mirrored disco ball — the princess welcomed cheers and admiring glances from a crowd of onlookers at a Tusk Conservation Awards ceremony in September 2013. Kate’s sparkly sequin Packham brought glimmer and glam to the fall awards ceremony.
7. Belle of the Ball
Clad in royal blue in India, the princess was a sensation in a silk chiffon gown by her go-to formal wear designer. The bespoke gown has glittering sequin and light-catching beads with a matching cape and clutch detailed in the same intricate embroidered pattern.
8. Star of the Show
At the movie premiere Spectre in 2018, Princess Kate looked resplendent in a pale gray-blue sheer evening gown which she modified from the runway version which featured cut-out shoulders and deep v-neck.
9. Heavy Metal
At a black-tie reception at St. James Palace in 2011, the princess was flawless in an artfully draped one-shoulder silver gown. The elegant and captivating Grecian maxi was noteworthy for its modesty and modernity.
10. Midnight Tulle
Elegant and enchanting in this inky blue silk gown by Packham, Kate was a sensation at the National Portrait Gallery in her evening attire. A velvet belt, gathered sleeves and dark spruce color made this long dress have airs of gothic influence with a pinch of medieval magic.
11. Paris Cinderella
The princess wore an exquisite powder blue Packham design for a dinner in the City of Light while making a two-day visit to the famed fashion capital. The royal’s stunning sequin design features intricate embroidery on a sheer bodice that is saturated in sequin. Kate finished the dazzling look with Oscar de la Renta glittering platinum pumps.
12. Ravishing in Red
For a state banquet for the Chinese president and First Lady, Kate wore a striking red ballgown in the color of the Chinese flag. The evening dress bore all the tell-tale Packham trademarks including a long tulle skirt, beaded bodice, sequin detailing and cap sleeves.
13. Disney Duchess
As the then-Duchess of Cambridge, Kate looked enchanting in a dusty blue bespoke dress from her favorite design house for a Royal Variety performance in 2017. Based on a heavily sequined bridal design from Packham — the royal was impeccable in her illusion tulle gown covered in floral crystals.
14. Glowing in Green
Anticipating the arrival of little Prince Louis, Duchess Kate was radiant in a deep emerald gown for the BAFTA Awards in 2018. Gliding down the red carpet in the designer’s ‘Lucerne’ flowing silk gown with a black velvet ribbon bow belt — the brunette stunned onlookers with her mom-to-be glow.
15. Ice Queen
A fully realized Packham Princess — Kate had an epic fairytale fashion moment at a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace in late 2018. A cloudy cowl neck dress was adorned with glittery beads and finished with an embellished belt. The gauzy A-line dress with illusion cap sleeves and sequin beading was the perfect choice for a modern royal and future Queen.
16. Hitting all the Right Notes
Looking pretty perched on a piano bench, Princess Kate wore an ethereal blue gown for a piano performance for the Eurovision competition in May 2023. Kate’s stunning sapphire gown was a hit with royal watchers who swooned over Packham’s ‘Marlowe‘ one-shoulder crystal embellished draped gown. Worn in the Crimson Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, Kate paid homage to Ukraine with a dress in the nation’s colors.
17. Scarlet Fever
Clad in a ruby gown from Packham’s fall 2019 collection, the princess was holiday-ready in a floor-length fitted gown with burgundy sequin and beaded floral embroidery for a palace reception. A departure from her usual billowy and blouson styles — the princess wowed in the figure-hugging number at the Diplomatic Corp event at Buckingham Palace in December 2022.
18. Glam in Gold
Debuting her most iconic look to date, Kate looked magnificent in a sequin drenched Goldfinger column gown with floor-sweeping gold cape from go-to designer Jenny Packham for a James Bond premiere in September 2021. A beguiling and breathtaking dress moment for the popular royal, Kate’s epic evening gown nearly broke the Internet.
19. Green Goddess
Bringing her ballerina best to Jamaica in March 2022, the princess looked like a movie star in the ‘Wonder’ gown from her beloved British design house. Kate’s maxi was a standout with an oversized ruffle tulle neckline, flowy skirt and celestial crystal detailing.
20. Pretty in Pink
Clad in a sequin showstopper at the Jordan wedding of Crown Prince Hussein, Kate was beautiful in a Georgia sequin embellished pale pink dress from sartorial mastermind Jenny Packham. The long beaded hem, subtle padded shoulders and tonal embellishments brought a little more royal ritz to the already glamorous affair.
