![Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrives on the green carpet to attend the inaugural Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London on October 17, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate01.jpg?resize=1200%2C807&ssl=1)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in London on Sunday evening to champion one of their charitable initiatives, the Earthshot Prize, at its first annual awards ceremony.
![Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, (L) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, (R) arrive on the green carpet to attend the inaugural Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London on October 17, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate02.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The couple walked the green carpet at London’s Alexandra Palace for the event. The Duke and the couple’s Royal Foundation launched the prize initiative in 2020, calling it “the most prestigious global prize for the environment in history.” The Royal Foundation website notes that they hope the prize “will incentivise change and help to repair our planet over the next ten years – a critical decade for the Earth.”
![Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate03.jpg?resize=1200%2C1892&ssl=1)
Appropriately, William wore a jacket made of dark green velvet for the ceremony, while Kate reached into her collection to bring back a favorite dress from the early days of the couple’s marriage. This lavender Alexander McQueen gown has been in her closet for more than a decade. Those attending the ceremony were reportedly asked to “consider the environment” and not to buy new clothing to wear to the event.
![Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive at the 2011 BAFTA Brits To Watch Event at the Belasco Theatre on July 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate04.jpg?resize=1200%2C1715&ssl=1)
Here’s a glimpse of the last time we saw the Duchess wear this particular Alexander McQueen gown in public. In July 2011, she wore the dress in Los Angeles for a BAFTA Brits To Watch Event. You’ll note that she wore a different belt with the gown on that occasion.
![Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrives on the green carpet to attend the inaugural Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London on October 17, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1799&ssl=1)
During the previous Los Angeles outing for the gown, Kate paired the dress with the Queen’s Diamond Chandelier Earrings. This time around, she wore a pair of earrings that have been in her jewelry box for five years.
![Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stands with her daughter Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, a bridesmaid, following the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton to James Matthews at St Mark's Church on May 20, 2017 in Englefield Green, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate06.jpg?resize=1200%2C1706&ssl=1)
She chose a pair of earrings from her collection of Kiki McDonough pieces. These earrings, first worn at the wedding of her sister, Pippa Middleton Matthews, in 2017 (pictured above), are set with diamonds and morganites.
![Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge talks with broadcaster Sir David Attenborough during the 2021 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate11.jpg?resize=1200%2C774&ssl=1)
We got another good view of the earrings inside Alexandra Palace, as Kate chatted with Sir David Attenborough.
![Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge walking onto the stage, during the first Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate07.jpg?resize=1200%2C1243&ssl=1)
Kate also made an appearance during the televised ceremony, handing out one of the evening’s awards. Five winners were honored with £1 million prizes to acknowledge their important work and allow them to pursue solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems.
![Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (left) has a chat with Emma Thompson before walking onto the stage during the first Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate08.jpg?resize=1200%2C1373&ssl=1)
Kate got a few tips on presenting from a professional—Dame Emma Thompson—before stepping out on stage. Dame Emma took the dress requirement seriously as well, wearing the same trouser suit that she wore to receive her damehood from Prince William back in 2018. (You can’t see it in this image, but she’s also got the star of the Order of the British Empire pinned to her lapel.)
![Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on stage during the first Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate09.jpg?resize=1200%2C1821&ssl=1)
Kate announced the winner of the inaugural the Protect and Restore Nature. The prize went to the Republic of Costa Rica, which has made huge strides in restoring its forests. The million-pound prize will help the nation in a new project, which compensates local citizens who work to restore natural ecosystems. (You can read a full list of the prizes and the winning projects here.)
![Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, (R) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, (C) smile as they attend the inaugural Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London on October 17, 2021](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-1018-kate10.jpg?resize=1200%2C1204&ssl=1)
Both William and Kate spoke during the ceremony, and they watched proudly from the audience as others handed out awards and spoke about the Earthshot initiative. In a message played during the broadcast, William noted that the next decade is a crucial tipping point for the planet: “Time is running out. A decade doesn’t seem long enough, but humankind has an outstanding record of being able to solve the unsolvable.” His Earthshot Prize will continue to reward those who develop visionary solutions in the fight against climate change. William announced that next year’s awards ceremony will be held in the United States.
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