Princess Kate's Stunning Dress At Latest Event Had a Hidden Message Not Many Noticed
Kate Middleton is known for her impeccable fashion sense, looking every bit like a future queen. Such is her influence, dubbed the 'Kate Effect,' her outfits often sell out minutes after hitting the shelves. Recently, she made a radiant return to the Royal Variety Performance on November 19, her first appearance at the event since stepping back from duties in 2024 for cancer treatment. Her vibrant green gown carried a special meaning, with color psychologist Jules Standish noting that the shade symbolized renewal, regrowth, and a powerful reconnection with nature.
Middleton's Talbot Runhof figure-hugging dress exuded a festive holiday charm, its rich velvet perfectly complementing her slender silhouette. However, according to Standish, the dark green outfit cleverly signaled a nod to tradition, resilience, and renewal, especially meaningful given that this was her return to royal engagements after her health challenges. She told the Daily Mail, "Green, when seen as a wavelength of light, is naturally very calming on the eye, keeping us in a de-stressed zone. It is also the color of the heart center, making it a shade that emulates coming from the heart, showing Kate's friendly, benevolent, and compassionate approach, so it is a perfect hue to highlight that side of herself." The outfit, as Standish puts it, is also the lucky color for 'pursuing luck.'
Indeed, back in 2022, when the then-Duchess of Cambridge was asked about her favorite color during a walkabout in Wales to celebrate St. David's Day, she answered, "It's what I'm wearing. Do you know why? It's because it reminds me of nature." She was wearing a green Sportmax coat at the time.
Middleton's fondness for the color has not waned; instead, this year she has donned multiple green ensembles. Her Royal Variety Performance gown showcased a pattern. Standish explained, "It is soothing, calming, and nurturing of wellbeing, and Kate uses this color in a positive way for herself and to project positivity to others."
Studies have shown that green shades reduce stress, improve heart rate, and evoke a feeling of restoration. Standish stressed, "It is no coincidence that Kate, renowned for her poised public presence, gravitates to a color that signals both control and calmness." She added, "Gone are the occasional sharp citrines or fashion-forward chartreuses. In their place are rich, grounding shades of olive, forest, emerald, and moss." Now in remission, having spent the past year balancing recovery with public duties, wearing a color steeped in positivity reflects where the Princess is at mentally.
For her part, the Princess of Wales has often spoken about the power of nature in her recovery. As famously said in her video shot by royal collaborator Will Warr, "It is through nature that we can fully understand the true interconnectedness of all things, the importance of balance and the importance of renewal and resilience." Middleton is known to enjoy forest bathing and meditation, which helped her navigate her difficult health battle.