The Gist
Prince William and Kate Middleton made a joint appearance together on February 22, attending the BAFTAs together.
It was the Prince and Princess of Wales’s first engagement together since the February 19 arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The couple had a subtle show of sartorial unity while attending the awards ceremony on Sunday.
Members of the royal family sometimes let their clothes do the talking.
Such seems to be the case with Prince William and Kate Middleton, who made their first joint appearance together after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on February 19 at the BAFTAs on February 22, where they walked the red carpet and sat front row at the event. William has been president of BAFTA since 2010, and, while the Prince and Princess of Wales frequently attend the ceremony, this was their first appearance there together since 2023, before Kate’s cancer diagnosis the next year.
Kate Middleton and Prince William on February 22, 2026
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If you’ll notice, over the years, members of the royal family wear a united color when they want to look in sync to the public. It’s happened at various events over the years, like at Kate’s “Together at Christmas” carol concert, for example. But in a blink-and-you’ll-miss it subtle show of unity, the Prince and Princess of Wales showed they’re a united front at the BAFTAs on Sunday, coordinating their outfits in a way that wasn’t overt but was still meaningful.
Kate Middleton and Prince William coordinated subtly at the 2026 BAFTAs
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As People reported, the couple doesn’t “often directly match their fashion,” but did Sunday night. Wearing a blush pink and mauve Gucci gown—a re-wear from a 2019 event—Kate’s belt was burgundy, a perfect match to her husband’s burgundy velvet blazer. Royal fashion commentator and author of the 2020 book HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style Elizabeth Holmes wrote on her Instagram Story on Sunday of the Prince and Princess of Wales, “You don’t need to know anything about fashion to get the vibe that these two—the future of the monarchy—are a pair.”
“This kind of coordination is CALMING, which is what the BRF [British royal family] wants to project at this time of crisis,” she added. Ironically, William shared at the BAFTAs that he was anything but calm, saying that he wasn’t currently in a “calm state” and “needed to be in a calm mood” to watch Hamnet, which left Kate in “floods of tears.”
Kate Middleton and Prince William on February 22, 2026
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The Prince and Princess of Wales avoided the question “Is the monarchy in peril?” while on the red carpet, but it certainly hasn’t been an easy week for the institution. On Thursday—his 66th birthday—Andrew was arrested and detained for 11 hours over suspicion of misconduct in public office, allegedly providing classified information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while Andrew served as a U.K. trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. He has not been charged as of yet, and continues to deny wrongdoing.
Two days after Andrew’s shocking arrest, Kate made a solo appearance on February 21 at a Six Nations rugby match, where she supported England, though the team fell to Ireland with a score of 42-21. The next evening, in addition to her Gucci gown, Kate wore heirloom jewelry from the royal collection, namely Queen Elizabeth’s Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings and Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker bracelet. She also accessorized with her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
“In a moment where the royal family is under intense scrutiny, her appearance felt quietly strategic, a reminder of stability, grace, and the composure expected of a future queen,” fashion commentator Lisa Talbot told The Daily Mail. She continued that “the soft, flowing silhouette of her gown felt romantic yet incredibly poised, a beautiful balance of femininity and authority,” adding that Kate’s appearance “wasn’t about drama—it was about presence.”
“Kate’s BAFTAs look was a masterclass in understated power dressing,” Talbot said. “Nothing felt overdone. Her hair was glossy and softly styled, and the makeup fresh and refined, allowing her natural features to lead rather than compete with the dress.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the BAFTAs
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William and Kate’s coordinated style moment is an important symbol of unity in a royal family that risks being torn apart by Andrew’s scandals. “Without question, this is the biggest royal scandal in the last century,” royal historian Gareth Russell told Us Weekly. “They were all blindsided.”
“The monarchy depends on the trust, goodwill, and affection of the British people,” royal biographer Christopher Andersen told the outlet. “The Epstein case, and in particular Andrew’s involvement in it, has really stretched that bond to the breaking point.”
Read the original article on InStyle