Kate Middleton brought back an elegant black polka-dot dress by Alessandra Rich for Saturday evening's Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall (7 November 2026).
The Princess of Wales revisited a familiar favourite from her wardrobe, pairing the timeless midi dress with black accessories and diamond earrings once owned by Queen Elizabeth II.
Polka dots have long been a favourite of Kate's, and this sophisticated black-and-white design felt particularly appropriate for the solemn occasion.
Kate joined Prince William, King Charles, Queen Camilla and other senior royals at the Royal British Legion's annual Festival of Remembrance.
Held on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, the event brings together members of the Royal Family, serving military personnel, veterans and their families to honour the service and sacrifice of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces.
This year's programme marked several significant military anniversaries, including 35 years since the end of the Gulf War and 15 years since the conclusion of Operation TELIC in Iraq. The evening also reflected on British military service in Bosnia.
One particularly moving part of the programme centred on letters sent home by military personnel during the Iraq War. Known as blueys, these distinctive light-blue airmail letters offered a personal glimpse into life during deployment.
Among those whose experiences were shared was Lieutenant Colonel Caroline Whittaker, who wrote to her parents and sister while serving as a director of nursing in a field hospital in Iraq in 2003.
The evening's theme, Places of Remembrance, explored how locations can hold special meaning for people remembering lost loved ones. From national memorials to gardens, football pitches and quiet everyday spaces, the programme highlighted the deeply personal nature of remembrance.
Hosted by Clive Myrie, the Festival featured musical performances from Alfie Boe, Mica Paris, Tom Odell, Rita Wilson and James Emmanuel, alongside military bands.
The evening concluded with a two-minute silence as thousands of poppies fell inside the Royal Albert Hall, paying tribute to those who have served and sacrificed.
Kate's outfit
The Princess rewore her Alessandra Rich black polka-dot midi dress from the designer's 2021 collection.
The silk crepe de chine design features a high neckline, long sleeves, a dropped waist and a flowing pleated skirt. Its delicate white polka dots provide a subtle contrast against the black fabric.
Regular readers will recognise the piece. The Princess first wore it to Prince Philip's memorial service at Westminster Abbey in March 2022.
In true Kate style, the dress has been altered and given a new lease of life. The original buttons have been removed and the front slit sewn closed. It's another example of the Princess's fondness for upcycling and reworking pieces already in her wardrobe.
Unfortunately, the exact dress is no longer available to buy. However, Alessandra Rich continues to produce similar designs, including this black-and-white polka-dot silk midi dress from the autumn/winter 2026 collection, complete with puff sleeves and a lace-trimmed collar.
Kate paired her dress with sleek black slingback heels, also by Alessandra Rich. They're new to her wardrobe, at least as far as we're aware, as we've not seen her wear them before. Thanks to MiddletonMaven for identifying the shoes.
The designer's Leather Slingbacks With Point feature a sharply pointed toe, a slender 10.5cm stiletto heel and an adjustable slingback strap finished with a small gold-tone buckle.
The shoes are currently listed on Alessandra Rich's website for €740, although availability may vary by size.
This is the Princess's third known pair of Alessandra Rich slingbacks. She already owns two pairs of the designer's two-tone 'Fab' pumps, one in white and black and another in beige and black. Clearly, she's a fan of the style!
The Princess has developed quite a collection of Alessandra Rich pieces over the years. She first brought the label to widespread attention among royal fashion watchers in 2018, when she wore a navy polka-dot dress in the official portraits marking King Charles's 70th birthday. Since then, we've seen her in several more of the designer's creations, including spotted dresses, floral prints and vintage-inspired styles. See more Alessandra Rich pieces in Kate's wardrobe.
Founded in 2010 by Italian designer Alessandra Rich, the luxury label has offices in London and Milan. It's known for its romantic, retro-inspired designs, often featuring feminine silhouettes, puffed sleeves, lace collars and playful prints.
Kate cinched the waist of her dress with the Betty belt by ba&sh.
It's crafted from black suede and features a matching square buckle.
The Princess has owned the piece since 2019, when she first wore it for A Berry Royal Christmas, the BBC television special filmed with Mary Berry. Saturday marked the fourth public appearance.
Good news if you'd like to add the belt to your own wardrobe. The Betty belt is still available to buy, priced at £135 in the UK or $155 in the US, although some sizes are selling out.
This isn't the only ba&sh accessory Kate owns. She owns the same belt in burgundy croc and a pair of the label's Coda leather Chelsea boots in chocolate brown.
Founded in Paris in 2003 by friends Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief, ba&sh is known for its effortless French style, combining feminine designs with relaxed, contemporary pieces.
Let's look at Kate's clutch next. Another familiar piece, the black velvet Celeste clutch by Jimmy Choo that she's owned since at least 2018.
She's brought it out for several significant occasions since, including the 2019 Royal Variety Performance, Prince Philip's funeral in 2021 and the 2023 BAFTA Awards. The bag also appeared at the 2018 Festival of Remembrance.
The elegant evening bag features a structured rectangular silhouette, a metallic frame and Jimmy Choo's signature cube clasp. It also comes with an optional chain strap.
It's clearly a favourite. Kate owns the Celeste design in several colours, including navy, burgundy and blush pink, and regularly returns to the style for formal engagements.
Sadly, the exact black velvet version is no longer readily available to buy new, although you may occasionally find one on pre-loved designer resale websites. There's currently one listed at The RealReal for $260.
Out of your price range? This True Decadence clutch at ASOS is a very affordable alternative.
On to Kate's earrings now, which added a lovely amount of sparkle to her look. She wore Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Orbital Pendant Earrings, sometimes known as the Diamond Frame Earrings.
The striking earrings feature a round diamond cluster at the stud, from which a graduated drop of four diamonds hangs. The pendant is surrounded by an open diamond frame, creating the distinctive orbital design that gives the earrings their name.
Little is known about the history of these beautiful jewels, beyond the fact that they were previously worn by the late Queen.
Kate first wore the earrings publicly at the Place2Be Wellbeing in Schools Awards in November 2016. Since then, we've seen her choose them for several significant occasions, including diplomatic receptions, Princess Eugenie's wedding and state banquets. Saturday's appearance marks their 13th documented outing on Kate.
Pinned to Kate's dress were two meaningful accessories.
The first was her Irish Guards regimental brooch, reflecting her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
The second was a beautifully handcrafted remembrance poppy, created through a collaboration between historic British hatmaker Lock & Co. and embroidery artist Izzy Ager.
Kate first wore the intricate poppy last year.
Each example takes approximately 12 hours to create, using materials including silk, glass and other natural elements. Priced at £500, the handcrafted poppies raise funds for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
Read more about the Lock & Co. poppy collaboration on the company's website.
For more looks from this annual event, browse my Festival of Remembrance archive.
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