Kate Middleton attended the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall wearing an emerald green velvet Talbot Runhof gown. Zak Hussein / SplashNews.com
Kate Middleton returned to the Royal Variety Performance Wednesday night in a festive emerald velvet gown — and brought some major sparkle out of Queen Elizabeth II’s jewelry archives to complete the look.
The Princess of Wales, 43, arrived at London’s Royal Albert Hall in the figure-hugging “Bobonne” style from German designer Talbot Runhof, featuring ruched shoulders and a floor-sweeping mermaid hem.
Middleton paired the now-sold-out number with Queen Elizabeth’s Greville chandelier earrings — show-stopping Cartier creations featuring multi-tiered diamonds in an Art Deco design. The earrings were a wedding gift from the Queen Mother in 1949.
The Princess of Wales paired the now-sold-out “Bobonne” gown with Queen Elizabeth II’s Greville chandelier earrings. WireImage
Middleton also wore Queen Mary’s diamond bar bracelet, crafted in the 1920s and originally worn as a choker. Getty Images
She completed her festive look with coordinating green velvet Manolo Blahnik pumps and loose, flowing curls. INSTARimages
She also chose a diamond bar bracelet that formerly belonged to Queen Mary, who wore it as a choker necklace in the 1920s.
The princess completed her ensemble with coordinating green velvet Manolo Blahnik pumps, a silver Jenny Packham clutch, and wore her hair in loose curls.
Prince William matched her elegant energy in a black velvet tuxedo jacket over a white shirt and bow tie.
The evening was Middleton’s first time back at the annual charity event since her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 and subsequent recovery. It’s also the sixth time she and William have attended the performance, which raises funds for entertainers facing illness or financial hardship.
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The Art Deco earrings were a gift from the Queen Mother to the late Queen Elizabeth II for her 1949 wedding. Getty Images
In 1952, Elizabeth II wore the same earrings to her first Royal Variety Performance as Queen. She brought them out repeatedly throughout her reign, as recently as 2010. Getty Images
Middleton has a similar habit of showing off the earrings on special occasions, including at Buckingham Palace in 2023. Getty Images
The princess revealed to attendees that her three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — were “very sad” not to attend.
She explained children weren’t allowed at the adult event, which featured performances by the cast of “Paddington The Musical,” Jessie J, Laufey, Madness and Sir Stephen Fry.
In a particularly touching moment, Middleton shared a hug with Jessie J, who recently battled breast cancer herself.