Princess of Wales is a vision in white - as she rewears stunning £400 Self Portrait gown for emotional VE Day concert

Daily Mail​

08-05-2025

The Princess of Wales put her best fashion foot forward in a chic all-white ensemble as she attended the concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday evening.
Kate, 43, is often hailed as a fashion icon who has the power to sell out any piece of clothing in minutes.
And today was no different, as she stepped out in a glamorous pure white Self Portrait blazer dress, turning heads as she joined her husband, Prince William, 42, in honouring those who took part in the war effort at Horse Guards Parade in London.
The elegant £400 frock - which channels old Hollywood glamour - is made from bouclé, chiffon and fine lace and looks like two separate garments upon first glance.
Ever the epitome of style and grace, the mother-of-three understands the strength in a good core wardrobe, as she the statement gown in 2021 and 2022.
Kate decided to accessorise her look with the £45 Vintage Pearl Cluster Clip-On Earrings from Orelia jewellery - which have since become out of stock.
The brand, based in Brighton and founded in 2008, says they design 'affordable, contemporary jewellery'.
The future queen is a big fan of the company, and has re-worn her favourite £18 Orelia gold hoop earrings countless times.
Kate pulled her wavy chocolate brown tresses back and fastened them in place with a £20 black bow hairclip from one of her favourite high street stores, Jigsaw
Kate pulled her wavy chocolate brown tresses back and fastened them in place with a £20 black bow hairclip from one of her favourite high street stores, Jigsaw.
The Princess of Wales first sported the oversized black velvet bow in December, for the Royal Foundation carol service at Westminster Abbey, and the accessory was hailed a 'triumph' by the Mail's fashion editor.
She paired her sophisticated ensemble with pointed nude heels, a stacked pearl necklace to match her earrings and a Chanel black crossbody bag with gold metal detailing.
She donned glamorous makeup for the occasion, opting for grey smoky eyeshadow and a natural base with a hint of contour.
Kate was snapped beaming alongside her husband as they stepped out for the event which will see performances echoing the historic celebrations 80 years ago.
It included music from the era, as well as stories of veterans from the Second World War, with 12,000 people in the audience.
The Prince and Princess of Wales looked to be in high spirits as they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla - as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday
The Prince and Prime Minister appeared to be in deep conversation as they exchanged greetings today
William and Kate smiled as they made their arrivals for the VE Day concert this evening, along with the King and Queen
Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music.
The artists featured included the cast of World War II musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks - who will offer her powerful rendition of We'll Meet Again - Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, The Darkness, Toploader and Tom Walker.
Elsewhere, Brian Cox - celebrated for his role in Succession - delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.
Audiences were also be treated to recreations of scenes reviving the beloved TV series, Dad's Army. Other actors who leant their voices this evening were Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock.
It comes as earlier today, Kate made a heartfelt tribute to her mother-in-law as she joined members of the Royal Family for a service marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey.
She took to today's Service of Thanksgiving in London to remember the end of the Second World War in Europe and to commemorate those who fought to bring peace to Europe and the rest of the world.
The mother-of-three was accompanied by her husband Prince William, and opted for a striking ensemble today, complete with a black and white polka dot Alessandra Rich dress and a black fascinator by Juliette Botterill.
Kate added a sentimental touch to her outfit by adding a pair of earrings that previously belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. The earrings, gifted to Diana before her wedding to the then-Prince Charles in 1981, became Diana's firm favourites and she sported them on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy.
Collingwood, a jewellery firm that was a favourite of the Spencer family, presented them to Diana before she became Princess of Wales.
Diana wore them on several occasions throughout her marriage, including during her tour of the US in 1985, where she paired them with a lacy white gown and the Lover's Knot tiara for a gala dinner at the British Embassy.
Diana also sported them with the form-fitting black dress she wore at the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in November 1994 in London, which then later became known as the Revenge Dress.
Kate has donned the earrings as a sweet nod to her late mother-in-law several times, including in her official portrait marking her 40th birthday.
Elsewhere today, William looked smart in a navy suit with a household decision tie and Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Neck Order. He also donned gold jubilee, diamond jubilee, platinum jubilee, and coronation medals.
It was announced in February that mother-of-three Kate, who has made a gradual return to public duties following cancer treatment, would be attending today.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla led a host of senior royals in London as they commemorated the sacrifices of Second World War veterans and their generation.
They were joined by Prince William, Kate, Prince Edward, Sophie, Princess Anne, Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also present as well as former PMs such as Rishi Sunak, Lord David Cameron and Boris Johnson - but there was unsurprisingly no Prince Harry or Meghan Markle, five years after they stepped down as senior royals.
A handwritten note on a wreath from the Prince and Princess of Wales said: 'For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War, we will remember them.' Another from the King on his wreath stated: 'We will never forget.'
On May 8, 1945 the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with church bells ringing out across the country and people gathering to revel in the end of hostilities, with crowds gathering outside Buckingham Palace calling for King George VI.
After almost six years of fighting against Hitler's Nazi regime peace was declared, although the war against Japan would continu e until August 15 that year.
During today's service ten-year-old Alexander Churchill, the great-great-grandson of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, lit a candle of peace as young members of the congregation handed out white roses to Second World War veterans.
The live televised service on BBC One began with a national two-minute silence at 12pm in honour of those who made sacrifices during the conflict, both on the front line and at home, to protect people's freedom and shared values.
Members of the Royal Family began arriving at Westminster Abbey at about 11.50am. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh made their way into the historic church, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Also present were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Today's event comes after the Royal Family paid tribute to veterans at a VE Day memorial in London on Monday.
Kate joined her husband Prince William and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they put on a united front following Prince Harry's call for 'reconciliation'.
King Charles and Queen Camilla also watched the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Their royal highnesses each cut sombre figures as they stood at the memorial
Kate was the picture of elegance and poise as she laid floral tributes at the Innocent Victims' Memorial following the Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey
The Princess of Wales laid flowers on the Innocent Victims' Memorial after the Thanksgiving Service had concluded
Kate elegantly bent down to lay the posy of flowers at the memorial while flanked by Prince William
Mother-of-three Kate was glowing in a berry ensemble, rewearing her beloved Emilia Wickstead pleated coat dress, alongside a matching Sean Barrett pillbox hat with a bow, beige Gianvito Rossi 105 pointed pumps, and earrings.
She added a gold winged RAF brooch to pay tribute to a deep family connection on her side of the family - her paternal grandfather Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
While observing the military procession along the Mall, Kate sat with her daughter Princess Charlotte - who recently celebrated her 10th birthday.
She was also seen chatting animatedly with 101-year-old Bernard Morgan, Ambassador for the Royal British Legion, who was the youngest RAF sergeant to land on D-Day.
They were joined by Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, seven, who kept William looking sharp by brushing off his uniform on the specially built dais on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.
Discussing the events, a palace aide said: 'The King, Queen and other members of The Royal Family are much looking forward to all the week's VE Day events, when they will unite with the rest of the nation and those across the Commonwealth and wider world in celebrating, commemorating and giving thanks to the wartime generation whose selfless devotion duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all – and must never be forgotten.'
Meanwhile, Charles was wearing Naval Uniform No.1 dress, with no medals or decorations, as his grandfather King George VI wore on the palace balcony on VE Day in 1945 – while William wore RAF No.1 Uniform.
Camilla was dressed in a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, the regiment of her late father Major Bruce Shand.
Pictured: (From L to R, front row) King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and the Princess of Wales and (L to R, back row) the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent at the Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate at Westminster Abbey this afternoon
Today's event follows Monday's fly past, which the Prince and Princess of Wales watched with their children (from L to R) Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte
The Duke of Edinburgh wore Army No.2 Service Dress of the Scots Guards, while Duke of Kent wore Field Marshal No.2 Service Dress.
Princess Anne, who was also present, wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps) with no decorations.
The late Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, wore the military uniform for her palace balcony appearance on VE Day 1945 as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Services.
Nato allies joined 1,300 members of the armed forces for the procession in the city, and the words of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech were spoken by actor Timothy Spall to kick off events for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
In Whitehall, the Cenotaph was draped in a large Union flag, with the south and north face of the landmark covered. It was the first time the war memorial has been draped in Union flags since it was unveiled by King George V more than a century ago, in 1920.
Crowds started to gather on The Mall on Monday morning, with some arriving the day before to secure a good viewing spot. Caroline Tomlinson, 59, travelled from Doncaster to witness the parade and camped overnight.
Dressed in Union flags, she said: 'I've been watching lots of footage from 1945 when everybody was gathering outside the palace, so just great to be a part of it here we are again 80 years later to do the very same. I got here at 2pm yesterday afternoon, sat in the red chair all night, had a little bit of sleep.
'I'm used to this, I've been to the other events. I've been to the Platinum Jubilee, the Coronation, the Queen's funeral, Royal weddings. Sleeping over is now my thing. It was very cold but I dressed accordingly and got through it. Slept about three times in one-hour bursts.
'I came here alone, the community is always so lovely. I'm absolutely hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royals.'
Michael Burn, 67, arrived at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace on Monday morning. Dressed head to toe in a Union flag suit he said: 'Obviously I'm very patriotic so I make the most of any of these events, the coronation or anything like that I'll be here.
'I think we've been very lucky that we've had 80 years of peace and these are very troubled times at the moment and we've got to think about all those that have the ultimate sacrifice and there's very few of them left now because they're all over 100. This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.'
Speaking of his suit and holding a seven foot Union flag he said: 'I bought this for the London 2012 Olympics and have worn it at every Royal event since. 'I can still get into it,' he joked.
Lizzie McCrae MacIntyre, a retired Women's Royal Air Force veteran, arrived at the Admiralty Arch at 4am to see the parade.
Ms MacIntyre, who travelled from Surrey, said: 'It's so important to remember those that didn't make it home. My dad was military, my brother was Air Force.'