The heartfelt message behind the Princess of Wales’s £1,785 dress
The heartfelt message behind the Princess of Wales’s £1,785 dress
Bethan HoltTue, June 2, 2026 at 7:14 PM UTC
0
The Princess of Wales wore a heart-print Rodarte dress - Yui Mok/PA Wire
Ever since the Princess of Wales shared her own cancer diagnosis in March 2024, she has shown compassion to others affected by the disease, whether through messages of support, visits to cancer hospitals or flowers sent to wards.
But on Tuesday evening, she expressed that support in her most stylish way yet, opting for a tea dress dotted with tiny hearts in a bold shade of red for a reception marking the 125th anniversary of Cancer Research UK. The event also marked the Princess and King’s first joint engagement since 2022. It was an outpouring of love in dress form.
The Princess’s heart-adorned dress is a £1,785 design by US fashion label Rodarte, a brand many fashion editors would consider a “cool girl” favourite. Natalie Portman, Kirsten Dunst, Ayo Edebiri and Charli XCX have all worn Rodarte in recent years.
Her Royal Highness met researchers, clinicians, and volunteers involved in Cancer Research UK - Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
The vintage aesthetic of Catherine’s dress, which is currently on sale for £1,428 at MyTheresa, chimes with a look she has often returned to over the years, usually sourcing these retro, ladylike dresses from the British label Alessandra Rich.
It is notable that the Princess opted for such a bold look, at once emotional and upbeat, for her appearance alongside the King. In the past, in the presence of the monarch, she would usually have worn something more understated. But in playful, vibrant red, she is front and centre at this event, quite rightly given her personal association with the charity’s cause. The choice is all the more poignant given that the King is also still receiving treatment for cancer.
Advertisement
The King, who is continuing to receive cancer treatment, joined the Princess at a reception marking Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary - Jonathan Brady/REUTERS
This distinctly personal version of literal dressing is the latest example of the Princess speaking volumes through her fashion choices. This year alone, we have also seen her wear Italy’s national azzurro blue during a visit to Emilia-Romagna and don a gown in the same shade of green as the Nigerian flag for a state visit by the nation’s president.
Unusually, the Princess and her team do not appear to have altered the dress at all, and she even elected to keep the red floral brooch attached to its white lapels. Rather than dialling down the red, Catherine emphasised her chosen colour palette with coordinating accessories, including Gianvito Rossi stilettos, a Miu Miu clutch bag, and a ruby necklace and earrings by the British jewellers G Collins & Sons.
Rather than softening the effect, Catherine amplified the dress’s bold red palette with coordinating accessories - Jonathan Brady - Pool/Getty Images
The Princess’s red dress is not only an uplifting choice for this event, but also shows her embracing the “tomato woman” look, one of this summer’s key trends.
The hue is everywhere on the high street and has been designated the official colour of this year’s Royal Ascot. “That bright orangey-red of a ripe tomato creates an instant feeling of summer joy,” Daniel Fletcher, Ascot’s creative director, recently told The Telegraph.
And if Royal Ascot is on the cards for the Princess this year, she already has the perfect dress.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
