Hidden message Kate Middleton sent to her supporters with her dress,
The Princess of Wales made a radiant return to the Royal Variety Performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday evening, marking a significant moment in her journey back to public life.
In her time as a royal, Kate Middleton has become exemplary at democratic dressing and has long understood the soft power of colour psychology, often giving a subtle nod through her fashion choices, and her Talbot Runhof dark green velvet gown was no exception.
Green is not only the colour of the season, but it comes with a deeper meaning, too. Whether jade, emerald or Middleton’s choice of a deep, dark hue, it is known as a shade of renewal and regrowth thanks to its connection with the natural world.
Colour psychologist Jules Standish explains, “green when seen as a wavelength of light is naturally very calming on the eye, keeping us in a destressed zone. It is also the colour of the heart centre, making it a shade that emulates coming from the heart, showing Kate’s friendly, benevolent and compassionate approach, so is a perfect hue to highlight that side of herself.”
It is also known as the shade most associated with pursuing luck. Here, worn by the Princess of Wales who is slowly returning to her royal duties after a year of recovery, the colour and its connotations find a new context.
Back in 2022, Kate was asked what her favourite colour was during a walkabout in Wales to celebrate St David’s Day. Wearing a green Sportmax coat she revealed, “it’s what I’m wearing. Do you know why? It’s because it reminds me of nature.”
That fondness has not dimmed, if anything, in 2025 it has intensified. This year alone, the princess has stepped out in a kaleidoscope of green ensembles, each more symbolic, more polished and more confidently worn than the last.
Her Royal Variety appearance merely underlined a pattern that has defined her public re-emergence. Kate is choosing green not by accident, but with purpose, wrapping herself in both symbolism and reassurance.
“Green is the colour of new beginnings and growth, we relate it to the nature in spring and the grass growing,” continues Standish. “It is soothing, calming and nurturing of wellbeing, and Kate uses this colour in a positive way for herself and to project positivity to others.”
But this was not the first time green has taken centre stage in her wardrobe this year. One of Kate’s standout daytime looks of 2025 remains the olive green Victoria Beckham trouser suit, a piece she has already worn twice this year.
Colour expert Standish explains that olive is a creative and intuitive colour. “The colour is compassionate and gentle towards others. It’s slightly different as it has the warmer yellow tones which give a sense of adventure, showing that Kate is embracing new experiences.”
Taken together, these appearances form more than a simple style streak. They reveal a woman using colour strategically and almost therapeutically, since green is widely regarded as one of the most stabilising hues in the spectrum.
“Scientific studies have suggested it can reduce stress, lower heart rates and evoke feelings of safety and restoration,” explains Standish. “It is no coincidence that Kate, renowned for her poised public presence, gravitates to a colour that signals both control and calmness.”
“Gone are the occasional sharp citrines or fashion-forward chartreuses. In their place are rich, grounding shades of olive, forest, emerald and moss. These are shades that feel grown-up, rooted and serene, chosen by a woman who knows her palette, knows her position and knows how to use clothing to communicate without ever uttering a word.”
This new era of green dressing also has another dimension, one of quiet support. Green is famously a colour associated with encouragement and reassurance. For a princess who has spent the past year balancing personal recovery with public expectation, wearing a colour steeped in positivity feels like a carefully considered decision. And as she walked beside William at the Royal Variety Performance, the symbolism of that supportive shade was unmistakable.
