Princess Kate Shared Why She Almost Ended Up With "Very Puffy Eyes" During Emotional Pre-BAFTAs Evening That Was a "Bad Idea"

Prince William said his wife was "in floods of tears."

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Princess Kate sitting at the BAFTAs in a pink gown
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Looking at Princess Kate on the 2026 BAFTAs red carpet, you'd never know she was "in floods of tears" the night before. The Princess of Wales looked fresh and glowing in a pink Gucci gown, historic royal jewels and perfect, beachy curls. But in a conversation with Emily Stillman, Chair of BAFTA's film committee, Kate admitted that her pre-awards show movie choice was "a very bad idea."

The Prince of Wales serves as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and he walked the red carpet with Kate for the first time since 2023 on Sunday, February 22. The couple chatted with those involved in the organization on the red carpet, and Prince William revealed that Hamnet—about the death of William Shakespeare's 11-year-old son—made his wife especially emotional.

"She watched Hamnet last night and was in floods of tears," the Prince of Wales said, pointing to Kate in an Instagram Reel shared by Cameron Walker of GB News. "I can't watch it!" he admitted.

Prince William and Princess Kate walking the BAFTA red carpet 2026

The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured at the 2026 BAFTAs on February 22.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Princess Kate in a pink gown and Prince William in a burgundy blazer on the BAFTAS 2026 red carpet

The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured at the 2026 BAFTAs on February 22.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

He later added, "I need to be in quite a calm state [to watch it] and I’m not at the moment," which could allude to the ongoing family crisis involving his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and his arrest last week.

While speaking to Stillman, Kate admitted that watching the sad film the night before a red carpet event "was a very bad idea actually…I thought I was going to end up with very puffy eyes today."

Despite her tearful movie night, the princess said she thought Hamnet was "very raw," praising the music and the story of "intergenerational grief." And given her impeccable makeup and skincare routine, there wasn't a puffy eye in sight.

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Kristin Contino
Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.