Kate Middleton just supported a very important cause by recycling this dress

(Image credit: 2021 Samir Hussein)

Last night The Cambridges attended the groundbreaking Earthshot Prize Awards in London, an initiative launched by Prince William in order to ‘generate a global movement to repair the planet’.

Though it was created in 2019, this marked the first time a physical awards ceremony was held, and what a star studded event it was.

Celebrities such as Emma Watson, Ed Sheeran, David Oyelowo and Emma Thompson attended the prestigious event, during which governments and companies from around the world were rewarded for new initiatives and ideas to tackles the Earth's most pressing problems.

The fashion industry has a bad rep for being one of the worst polluters, though many brands and designers are taking steps to combat that, so it was particularly refreshing to see some sustainable fashion choices being made last night on the red - or should I say green - carpet.

(Image credit: 2021 Karwai Tang)

Of course, as Kate Middleton was co-hosting the event, it was no surprise to see that she chose to recycle one of her old outfits - something she often does - instead of choosing a dress from a new collection which she is no doubt spoiled for choice with.

The Duchess opted for a lilac Alexander McQueen gown which she first wore in 2011. She updated her look with a glittering Jenny Packham belt and Kiki McDonough earrings which she was last photographed wearing to her sister Pippa Middleton's wedding in 2017.

Proof an outfit doesn't have to be new to be gorgeous.

During the event, Kate made an impassioned speech, saying, 'If we don’t act now, we will permanently destabilise our planet and we will rob our children of the future they deserve. Our Earthshot Prize Finalists show us however that we can, by 2030, see the natural world growing, not shrinking, for the first time in centuries.'

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.