Kate’s accessories added historical depth to her ensemble. She wore the Grenville Chandelier earrings, originally gifted to the then-Princess Elizabeth on her wedding to Prince Philip, and carried a burgundy Prada Raso Minaudière with crystal Gianvito Rossi pumps.
Most striking was the rarely seen Queen Mary Choker Bracelet, described as “a truly extraordinary piece only reserved for the most glittering of royal occasions.”
Created in the 1920s for Mary of Teck, wife of King George V, the Art Deco diamond piece has alternated between bracelet and choker over the decades. After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, it disappeared from public view for more than 20 years, later re-emerging on Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and eventually passing to Queen Elizabeth II following the Queen Mother’s death in 2002.
A Return After a Private Struggle
Beyond the couture and heirloom jewels, Kate’s presence carried wider significance. Vogue noted that “Kate’s attendance (she last put in an appearance in 2023, but temporarily stepped back from the spotlight the following year while undergoing cancer treatment) always helps to highlight the BAFTAs as a front-page worthy cultural moment beyond the U.K.”