Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Uniqlo x Cecilie Bahnsen
    • Perfume Necklaces
    • The Board Whisperers
    • Choulie
    • Holiday Movies
    1. Celebrity

    Kate Middleton Is in a Major Fashion Predicament Over Wearing Black at the BAFTAs

    If she doesn't support #TimesUp, there will be backlash. If she does, she's breaking royal protocol.

    By Mehera Bonner
    Published 9 February 2018 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Hair, Hairstyle, Street fashion, Blond, Beauty, Ear, Chin, Lip, Fashion, Brown hair,
    (Image credit: Getty images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Prince William and Kate Middleton are set to attend the 2018 BAFTA Awards on February 18, where actresses are expected to wear black dresses in support of the #TimesUp movement—much like at the Golden Globes.

    The thing is, and as anyone who watches The Crown knows, royal family members are strictly forbidden from making political statements. If Kate wears a black dress, it could be seen as a breech of royal protocol. But if she doesn't wear one, she could be the only person in the room opting out of supporting this vital moment for women.

    It presents a major predicament for her design team, as royal reporters are noting via social media.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Does the Duchess of Cambridge a) wear black to Bafta like #timesup campaigners and be accused of making political statement, or b) risk being the only woman wearing colour? Glad I'm not the one deciding https://t.co/unc7kMbLfnFebruary 9, 2018

    As Daily Mirror correspondent Victoria Murphy notes, it's possible that Kate will find a workaround by wearing black with some sort of colorful detailing—an implicit statement of solidarity with #TimesUp that isn't technically all that statement-y.

    My guess on this is that Kate will wear a dress that is black with some coloured/metallic detail. That way she is unlikely to be accused of being too political or of ignoring the cause https://t.co/aWhsYPsJmUFebruary 9, 2018

    FYI, this is what Kate wore last time she attended the BAFTAs in 2017:

    You may like
    • Princess Kate wearing a yellow gown and tiara standing at a table Princess Kate Narrowly Avoided State Banquet "Chaos" in Her Caped Gown
    • Princess Kate wearing a green blazer and clapping Princess Kate Gives Her Ralph Lauren Blazer New Life at an Emotional Event
    • Princess Kate waving in a white blouse and black coat Princess Kate Embraces 4 of Fall's Biggest Trends in a Romantic Tartan Outfit

    Red carpet, Carpet, Dress, Flooring, Clothing, Premiere, Fashion, Event, Formal wear, Suit,

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Stay tuned for details of this year's dress.

    RELATED STORY

    Violet, Child, Purple, Fun, Play, Recreation, Toddler, Happy,

    (Image credit: Archives)

    Kate Middleton's Body Language as a Mom 

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Mehera Bonner
    Social Links Navigation
    Entertainment Editor

    Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.

    Read more
    Princess Kate wearing a yellow gown and tiara standing at a table
    Royals Princess Kate Narrowly Avoided State Banquet "Chaos" in Her Caped Gown
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate wears a polka dot dress and joins Prince William at The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance event at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 7, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate Brings Back the Polka Dot Trend
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    A black and white photo of Princess Kate and Prince William on a staircase in formalwear
    Royals Princess Kate Styles Princess Diana's Favorite Tiara With a Leopard-Print Gown
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate Zara blazer
    Royals Princess Kate Loves This Under $100 Fashion Staple So Much She Has 10 Versions Of It
    By Christine Ross
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity
    Emily Ratajkowski wears a revealing Gucci white gown with a prominent leg slit and side boob
    Celebrity Style Emily Ratajkowski Delivers a New Twist on the Naked Dress
    SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK - DECEMBER 25: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    Royals Why George, Charlotte, and Louis Skipped Remembrance Sunday
     
     
    Princess Kate wearing a new coat dress for Remembrance Sunday 2026
    Royals Princess Kate's New Coat Dress Alludes to Princess Diana
    Princess Kate wears a polka dot dress and joins Prince William at The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance event at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 7, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate Brings Back the Polka Dot Trend
     
     
    Latest in News
    Emily Ratajkowski wears a revealing Gucci white gown with a prominent leg slit and side boob
    Celebrity Style Emily Ratajkowski Delivers a New Twist on the Naked Dress
    SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK - DECEMBER 25: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    Royals Why George, Charlotte, and Louis Skipped Remembrance Sunday
     
     
    Princess Kate wearing a new coat dress for Remembrance Sunday 2026
    Royals Princess Kate's New Coat Dress Alludes to Princess Diana
    Princess Kate wears a polka dot dress and joins Prince William at The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance event at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 7, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate Brings Back the Polka Dot Trend
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.