The true story behind Kate Middleton’s sheer dress runway moment, as seen in The Crown
The iconic catwalk appearance was recreated for the final season of ‘The Crown’ — but how much of it was true?
By Dani Maher
TODAY, WE KNOW and love her as Princess Catherine of Wales — but once upon a time, Kate Middleton was just a university student like any other. During her time at St. Andrews University in Scotland, where she famously met and fell in love with Prince William, Kate studied art history, worked part-time as a waitress, achieved a gold Duke of Edinburgh Award — and memorably appeared in a charity fashion show wearing a now-iconic sheer dress.
Kate’s catwalk appearance occurred over 20 years ago in 2002, but the moment re-entered our collective conscience recently. The arrival of The Crown‘s sixth and final season heralded a number of major royal moments being recreated on screen, from the death of Princess Diana to the marriage of the now King Charles and Queen Camilla — and perhaps the most talked-about moment was the recreation of Kate’s fashion show.
But now that we’ve seen the moment fictionalised for the screen, you might be wondering how much of it (including Prince William’s reaction) is true. Below, we break down everything you need to know about Kate Middleton’s iconic sheer dress runway moment.
Related: Everything to know about ‘The Crown’ season 6, part 2
Did Kate Middleton wear a see through dress?
Yes, at a March 2002 charity fashion show, Kate Middleton lived out a brief runway model moment, walking the runway in a sheer lace dress.
The look — a black lace shift knee-length dress with a contrasting turquoise panel across the bust, and blue ribbon trim to the hem — was originally intended to be worn as a skirt, but on the runway, Kate wore it as a dress with a pair of plain black briefs underneath. The dress was styled with no accessories save for a ring and a pair of black pumps. Far from the pared-back beauty look she now opts for, Kate wore her hair in very 2000s tight spiral curls, with a light smoky eye, blushing cheeks and a frosty manicure.
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Did Prince William watch Kate Middleton’s university catwalk?
Yes, multiple outlets have reported that Prince William attended the fashion show and saw Kate’s sheer catwalk moment — even paying £200 (approx AUD$370) for a front row ticket, according to The Mirror.
The pair already knew each other — they met in 2001, as William’s original degree was in art history like Kate, before he changed to a major in geography, and they even lived in the same dorm! — however until the fashion show, the pair were just friends. It’s rumoured that their romance was sparked following the fashion show, with William reportedly telling a friend: “Wow, Kate’s hot”.
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Who designed Kate Middleton’s sheer dress?
Kate’s sheer dress was designed by fellow student Charlotte Todd, who had been studying for a degree in Fashion and Textiles at the University of the West of England, and created the garment for a project fittingly titled ‘The Art of Seduction’.
“Everyone says that the fashion show was when the romance started, so a small part of me will always be part of royal history,” Todd told People magazine. “It’s madness!”
Related: Every time Kate Middleton has sustainably re-worn an outfit
How much did Kate Middleton’s sheer dress sell for at auction?
While it only cost Todd about £30 (approx. AUD$55) to make, in 2011, the dress was auctioned off. Thanks to its royal association, it sold for £78,000 (approx. AUD$146,600) to a collector from Jersey — far outstripping the expected sale price of £10,000.
“I am totally speechless, and feel very emotional,” Todd said after the auction. “I really didn’t think it would make that amount. I am planning to put some of the money towards a deposit for a house, but perhaps I may use some to change my career.”
Related: Princess Diana’s iconic sheep sweater breaks auction records
What has Kate Middleton said about her sheer runway appearance?
10 years after the iconic moment, Kate Middleton publicly addressed her sheer catwalk moment with a cheeky joke at a charity appeal dinner for her alma mater in London in 2012.
Addressing an undergraduate student attending the reception, Kate said “I hope you weren’t involved in the fashion show. You never know what you are going to be asked to wear!”
How did The Crown recreate Kate’s sheer dress runway moment?
The Crown has recreated a number of iconic royal fashion moments — who could forget the revenge dress, among Diana’s other iconic sartorial moments? But they may have saved the best for last with Kate’s runway moment.
Meg Bellamy, the newcomer actor who was tapped to play a university-age Kate Middleton, said that filming the catwalk moment was nerve-inducing but ultimately “a really liberating experience”.
“I think at first I was a bit apprehensive, purely because it was the first time I had really felt like I was reliving a key event that I remembered seeing in the news,” Bellamy said of the scene. “But on the day itself, it was completely different, it was amazing. [Director] Erik Richter Strand instantly made me feel so comfortable. Polly Bennet choreographed it, she was my hype woman and Ed was my hype man. It was a reality liberating experience and it was so great for the self-esteem! I had such fun.”
Related: Who plays Prince William and Kate and Pippa Middleton in The Crown season 6?
