Prince William and Kate put on a show of unity as they beamed on the red carpet this evening ahead of the Bafta awards ceremony, with it marking their first joint appearance since 2023
The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a surprise Bafta appearance this evening after skipping the last two ceremonies while Kate recovered from cancer. Their long-awaited return has not disappointed fans as they stepped out on the red carpet this evening beaming.
Arriving at London's Royal Festival Hall, Kate rewore a stunning blush pink Gucci gown first seen in 2019. Featuring multiple shades of floaty pink fabric, and tied at the waist with a burgundy velvet belt, the princess's outfit was a romantic option for date night with William.
Meanwhile, William opted for a classic maroon tuxedo complete with a bow tie. The pair smiled as they walked down the glamorous carpet together, but body language expert Judi James noticed signs of "tension" amid a tough week for the monarchy.
Speaking to the Mirror, Judi adds: "There are subtle signs of suppressed or masked tension here too. Their arms hang freely at their sides to suggest assertive confidence, but William's right hand appears to show some tension and fiddling of the fingers. His hair and beard have been trimmed closer than usual in a more fashionable look."
The pair put on a show of unity following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrest earlier this week, with the royal family continuing public appearances despite being uninformed of the arrest until it took place on Thursday.
Judi says William appeared to "duck" from cameras while walking the red carpet. She adds: "William's poses here suggests some modesty, with his head slightly ducked as he walks with his hosts and a rather diffident smile making him look the opposite of arrogance here."
It has been a stressful few months for the monarchy, with Andrew appearing heavily in the latest Epstein files drop last month. Images included him leaning over an unknown female's body while she lay on the floor.
Email exchanges between him and Epstein also appeared to show Andrew arranging to meet someone for a date in London. Police were snapped searching the former Prince's homes on the Sandringham Estate earlier this week, with The Observer reporting today the King had given police access to all files on Andrew kept at Buckingham Palace.
He has since been released pending investigation, with images of him being driven back home from the police station emerging 11 hours after his arrest.
Observing Kate and William's body language at their first public outing, Judi also says there appears to be some "clenching of the teeth" from the couple on the red carpet, adding: "When Kate and William perform their red carpet smiles here there appears to be some slight edge-to-edge clenching of the teeth, hinting at an air of resolve rather than a completely relaxed approach to the event."
Despite this, Judi calls their appearance "stunning", saying: "Their red carpet appearance shows William and Kate at their A-lst best, upstaging the Hollywood celebrities with their own display of dazzling glamour and elegance.
"The subtly matching outfits radiate messages of being one bonded unit and a royal power couple, and Kate in particular looks keen to signal regal confidence and unflappable stoicism."
Kate accessorised her outfit with a diamond bracelet and Queen Elizabeth's Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings, which were created by Cartier. She completed the look with a dark red velvet box clutch.
The couple last attended the Baftas together in 2023, where Kate wore an Alexander McQueen gown with long black operate gloves. Kate and William appeared alongside Hollywood celebrities attending the prestigious awards, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson and Jessie Buckley among the stars nominated.
William has been President of the Bafta since 2010 and makes regular appearances at the awards night.
