Being a member of the royal family means having an extensive wardrobe that covers all kinds of occasions — casual moments at home with the kids, more professional looks for royal engagements, and of course, plenty of formal attire for those fancier events that take place after dark. Knowing that, it's no surprise that in her decade of being the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton has figured out how to become a fashion icon in her own right — especially when it comes to her evening gown collection.
Whether she's attending a movie premiere, a gala, a Royal Variety Performance, or one of the many other formal events on the royal family's social calendar, Kate's look rarely misses the mark. And while we can't begin to imagine the price tag on most of these dresses, at least we've seen her rewear some of them a time or two.
Scroll on to see all of Kate's most gorgeous evening gowns. If she ever wants to wear any of these again in the future, she's definitely got our full support.
A Sparkling Green Evening
The Royal Variety Performance guarantees that we'll get to see the royals all dressed up every year, and in 2021 Kate killed it in this glittery green gown. It's not often that we get to see her covered in sequins, but she never lets us down when the time comes!
Gorgeous & Eco-Friendly
When Kate and Prince William hosted the Earthshot Prize Awards in October 2021, they (and the attendees) wore outfits that they already owned in an effort to promote sustainable living. But even though Kate had worn this lavender gown before, she still rocked it.
Bond Girl
There are few occasions that call for a dressier look than movie premieres do, and when the senior royals all attended the premiere of No Time To Die in September 2021, Kate brought it to the red carpet. All of those sparkles even caught the attention of James Bond himself: Actor Daniel Craig told her she looked "jolly lovely."
A Sweet Repeat
Here's another impressive evening gown that Kate has worn more than once — and looking at it, it's easy to see why. A dress this gorgeous shouldn't be worn once and then kept in the closet! Here, she's wearing it at the 2020 BAFTAs. So pretty!
Black & Lace
Despite the fact that the royals attend formal events quite often, it's not common to see them wearing black — Queen Elizabeth prefers that her family saves that for more somber occasions. But still, once in a while, Kate will wear a black lacy number, like this one that makes us wish we saw this color on her more often!
Little Black Dress
While we're on the subject of Kate wearing black dresses, here's another major evening gown win. Of course, this is a major throwback to 2011 (look how young Kate, William, and Prince Harry all look), but a classic little black dress never goes out of style.
Shades of Pink
Is it just us, or is there no color that Kate doesn't look gorgeous in? She wore this Gucci gown, which featured different shades of blush pink (and plenty of chiffon), when attending a gala for women in finance in 2019. The neckline on this one was so striking.
A Vision in White
Many of us moms would feel uncomfortable with the risk of wearing all-white anything to run errands — let alone a formal event — but for Kate, it's a bit different. This stunning, off-the-shoulder gown really let her beauty shine (with no chance of little hands getting it dirty).
Together in Turquoise
We'll never deny that Queen Elizabeth is the master of wearing bold colors, but Kate pulls them off pretty well, too. This turquoise gown has so many gorgeous details, from the plunging neckline to the lace sleeves to the beading along the waist.
Draped in Blue
No Time To Die wasn't the only James Bond premiere that Kate attended. And though she didn't opt for something quite as sparkly when she walked the red carpet for Spectre in 2015, she still looked just as gorgeous in this drape-y blue dress and updo.
Bumpin' But Elegant
During a visit to New York City in 2014, Kate was pregnant with Princess Charlotte, but a baby bump didn't stop her from looking her best at an event held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she dressed it up in this gorgeous navy blue dress.
More Maternity Glam
Here's Kate at another event with a baby bump — but this time, it was Prince Louis she was in the process of growing! She wore this beaded powder blue gown in 2017 (back in her short-lived bob haircut phase) to the Royal Variety Performance about five months before Louis made his big entrance.
Low-Key Glam
When Kate walked the red carpet at a screening of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom in 2013, she kept it low-key while still wearing one of her most beautiful evening gowns in her collection. The simple white dress was perfectly complemented by Kate's eye-catching necklace.
Pink & Shiny
Here's another major throwback, given the fact that this photo was taken in summer 2011. William and Kate were at a gala in London when she chose to wear this shimmery pink Jenny Packham gown just a few months after they got married in April 2011.
An Olive Moment
Olive green can look drab on certain people, but not Kate. During her pregnancy with Louis, Kate wore this olive green gown to the 2018 BAFTAs. The empire waist showed off her bump beautifully, and we love how she accessorized with an emerald necklace.
High-Low Action
Though Kate typically sticks to more classic styles, we've gotta love when she steps outside the box and tries something on trend. When attending an event honoring wildlife photographers in 2014, Kate wore a blue high-low dress — something she should definitely consider trying out more often.
