Kate Middleton stuns in $2.5K dress while out with William

Kate Middleton went for some casual, tried-and-true wardrobe staples for her first post-maternity-leave royal appearance last week, but it was then time to bring out the big guns — and boy, did she deliver.

On Tuesday the Duchess joined husband Prince William for the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London, connected to World Mental Health Day on Wednesday.

The event called for a sophisticated look, and Kate ensured that all eyes were on her by wearing a long-sleeved dress in a gorgeous shade of lilac. Avid royal-watchers may recognise the dress from her 2017 trip to Berlin.

Fittingly named the Kate, the AU$2,500 A-line wool crepe number was designed by Emilia Wickstead — the same designer who made headlines when reports claimed that she had dismissed Meghan Markle’s Givenchy wedding gown as a copycat of one of her own styles and mocked the bride’s hair.

Wickstead later issued a statement insisting that she thought Meghan looked “absolutely beautiful” at the royal wedding.

But Kate’s sartorial support of Wickstead shouldn’t be seen as a snub of her sister-in-law. Meghan herself wore a black Wickstead dress in July, suggesting that any dress drama is all water under the bridge.

Kate accessorised the dress with taupe suede heels and a croc top-handle bag from Aspinal of London that retails for about $1,000.

The Mental Health Summit will see political figures, leading academics and policy-makers from around the world come together with one common goal: better mental health for all.
The meeting will help countries work together to deal with stigma attached to mental health and address other issues to do with mental ill-health.

The 10 October marks World Mental Health Day, which Kate, William and Harry have shown an interest in for the past couple of years, as part of their Royal Foundation charity.

The Duke and Duchess had a chance to speak to young delegates at the summit about the challenges and issues they face.

They also heard presentations on two case studies of active mental health programmes from Slovenia and the USA and visited an exhibition area.