How Kate always sparkles and shines in Packham! A look into Kate’s love affair with Jenny Packham

The Princess of Wales dazzled at the wedding reception of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and his new wife Rajwa Al-Saif.

AccompanedKate stood out from the crowd in a ‘Georgia’ gown by her all-time-favourite designer Jenny Packham – a rose gold, shimmering, long-sleeved dress costing around £5,000.

The mother-of-three paired the gown with what appeared to be the Lover’s Knot Tiara – worn previously by both the late Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II.

Since marrying into the Royal Family in 2011, Kate’s fondness for a sparkly gown has seen her step out in some iconic looks to attend state dinners, premieres and theatre trips. 

Here, MailOnline’s Royals takes a look at some of the Princess of Wales’s love affair with Jenny Packham (and sequins…)

State Banquet at Buckingham Palace 2022 

When attending  he luxurious State Banquet held in honour of the visiting South African president at Buckingham Palace last November, Kate sparked in her favoured Jenny Packham.

The Princess of Wales put her best fashion foot forward in a gem embellished white gown paired with her favourite tiara, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot.

The piece featured crystal embellished panels at the shoulders, elegant floor-length cape sleeves and a fitted silhouette. 

Kate’s gown is a bespoke version of the brand’s ‘Elspeth’ style, with exudes class and sophistication – a perfect fit for a future Queen.

Royal Variety Performance 2017 

The Princess of Wales stunned at the 2017 Royal Variety Performance as she arrived at the London Palladium in a long-sleeved, floor-length sequinned gown.

The powder blue bespoke gown was created by the then-Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite designer, Jenny Packham – and it certainly helped her steal the show.

Kate was pictured carrying a pink posy of flowers given to her by a well wisher, which complemented the pastel shade of the gown. She paired the dress with Oscar de la Renta pumps.

The gem and sequin-encrusted gown was so dazzling, it became dubbed Kate’s ‘Elsa dress’, from the Disney film Frozen.

And her look was so memorable, it has been raised by royal fans on subsequent visits.

People reported that, in 2019, two years after Kate debuted the look, she was visiting people in Cumbria when she met two young sisters – one of whom had been expecting her to wear her ‘Elsa dress’.

The mother-of-three responded:  ‘I know. I’m sorry. I came in my trousers and my coat because I’m going to see some sheep.’

No Time To Die premiere 2021 

It is perhaps no surprise that one of Kate’s most showstopping fashion moments which sticks in the minds of many royal fans was also created by British designer Jenny Packham.

Stepping out alongside Prince William at the No Time to Die premiere in 2021, as the long-awaited instalment in the Bond series was finally released, the Princess of Wales stole the show in a gold, floor-length sequin gown – and it even had a cape to boot.

She paired the custom-made gown, which is usually priced at around £2,800, with bespoke £290 Onitaa earrings – which were made in Pakistan by the South Asian luxury couture label.

Kate outshone even the stars in the form-fitting frock, created to look like liquid metal, from one of her favoured British fashion designers, teamed with Aquazzura £555 leather pumps for the long-awaited premiere.

She posed for photos with the Prince of Wales and the King and Queen Consort, who were also in attendance – and Camilla also got the sequin memo as she appeared in an embellished powder-blue gown.

The royals, now dubbed the ‘New Fab Four’, posed for photos together on the red carpet and wowed fans who had come out to catch a glimpse of glamorous stars.

They then stepped into the Royal Albert Hall where they met with the movie’s stars including Rami Malek and 007 himself, Daniel Craig.

 Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Charity Gala 2016

Kate stunned in a blue embellished gown, previously valued at around £3,500, at the Bollywood Gala in Mumbai on her and Prince William’s royal tour of India and Bhutan in 2016.

The design is believed to be hybrid of British design and Indian heritage with a touch of Bollywood glamour that looks brand new, and the beading is said to have been done in India.

For this outing, Kate paired the boat necked gown with a matching embellished shawl.

Four years later in 2020, Kate recycled the beautiful dress as she hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the children’s charity Place2Be.

For the event, Kate changed into her stunning Indian-inspired bespoke Jenny Packham gown and let down her bun allowing her brunette locks to flow in loose waves. She teamed her gown with her £550 sparkling Romy 100 Jimmy Choo stilettos.

Royal Variety Performance 2021

The Princess of Wales wore a beautiful dark green sequinned gown to the 94th Royal Variety Performance in 2021 designed by – you’ve guessed it – Jenny Packham.

Thrifty Kate had actually recycled the stunning dress, after it made its debut on a 2019 tour of Pakistan. 

All eyes were on the Princess as she arrived on the red carpet to represent the Royal Family at the event – and not just because of her fabulous sequinned look.

Kate had also ditched her classic bouncy blow-dried hairstyle for tight curls in her brunette locks.

And she certainly made an impression on other guests and hosts, with comedian Alan Carr telling her: ‘You look absolutely beautiful.’

So taken was the comedian by the Princess of Wales’s evening look that he later joked to Prince William: Sir, I am sure you do not know who I am but I am not hitting on your wife.’ 

Representing her trusted designer in accessories as well as her gown, Kate paired the dress with a bespoke Jenny Packham clutch bag.

She also accessorised with Missoma ‘Zenyu’ earrings and Emmy London ‘Rebecca Greenery’ court shoes. 

Jamaica state dinner 2022

The Princess of Wales’s wardrobe was under the microscope in March this year as she and William visited the Caribbean on a controversial royal tour.

Amid debate over Jamaica’s head of state (who at the time was Queen Elizabeth II), Kate and William carried out their royal duties as planned, with Kate’s most lavish look debuted at a state dinner.

She stepped out in a dark green tulle glittery gown, is believed to be a bespoke version of Jenny Packham’s £3,791 ‘Wonder Glitter Tulle Gown’, she accessorised with matching emerald-and-diamond earrings and a bracelet loaned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the special occasion. 

It is thought she was wearing green velvet Manolo Blahnik pumps to complete her look. 

Kate wore her hair in an intricate updo as she attended the state dinner thrown in their honour by the Governor General at King’s House, his Kingston residence.

The off-shoulder neckline and embellished bodice set tongues wagging over her most memorable outfit of the Royal Tour.

Tusk Conservation Awards 2013

In the Princess of Wales’s first red carpet appearance since giving birth to her eldest son Prince George, she proved she was more glamorous than ever after becoming a mother.

Sporting the silver, short-sleeved Jenny Packham gown which she paired with equally sparkling Jimmy Choo heeled sandals, Kate looked thrilled to be back to royal duties as she attended the Tusk foundation dinner gala at the Royal Society in London a few months after George was born.

She wore her hair in waves and opted for minimal jewellery to complement the dress – which was bejewelled enough in itself!

Kate stepped out in a simple diamond tennis bracelet, diamond studs and, of course, her signature sapphire engagement ring.

During the appearance alongside Prince William, who looked sharp in a black tuxedo and black bowtie, she revealed the new parents had managed to escape for the evening after asking Kate’s mother, Carole, to babysit their son.

The Princess was also overheard saying she wanted to ‘get back into shape’ after giving birth – but as she stole the show once again with a glowing look, she needn’t have worried.

Diplomatic Corps Reception 2022

The Princess of Wales stunned in scarlet at an event hosted at Buckingham Palace just last week as she represented Jenny Packham once again.

Sporting the deep red floor-length ‘Elodie’ gown embellished with sequins and beads in a floral pattern, Kate joined with Prince William, King Charles, and Queen Consort Camilla, for the first Diplomatic Corps reception in three years as they greeted hundreds of guests at the glittering affair.

Keeping her long brown tresses loose, Kate showed off the Queen’s Diamond Frame earrings, which she teamed with Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Family Order and her blue Royal Victorian Order sash.

Kate donned the Lotus Flower Tiara – also known as the Queen Mother’s Papyrus Tiara – which she has worn previously. Made of diamonds in fanned motifs crowned by floating diamond arches, it belonged to Princess Margaret. 

Kate also wore it to the diplomatic reception at the Palace in 2013, and to her first state banquet in the UK in 2015 during the Chinese state visit. 

Absolute Return for Kids Gala 2011 

The Princess of Wales attended the Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) gala dinner in 2011 and looked glamorous as ever in a pale pink and shimmering Jenny Packham gown.

The floor-length dress which was clinched at the waist with chiffon sleeves, was paired with a pair of LK Bennett heeled sandals and a metallic pink clutch bag from Prada. 

The gown itself was the Pink Pearlescent Swarovski Crystal gown from the designer’s SS11 collection, costing around £3,800.

Her earrings were the bubble drop design from Links of London.

State Reception in New Zealand 2014

For a state reception at the Government House in April 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand, Kate wore a bespoke black Jenny Packham dress which had been hand-stitched with silver beading.

This long sleeve midi cocktail dress by Jenny Packham and has been embellished on the shoulders with a silver fern to emulate the New Zealand emblem. 

Her little black dress was close fitting and accentuated the then Duchess’ slender frame but with the long sleeves and knee length cut, it was a demure take on party dressing.

Kate opted for her black Jimmy Choo Cosmic pumps for the evening’s event and carried a matching black Bayswater clutch by Mulberry.