How Kate Middleton's Dress Hints at Key Date in William and Harry's Relationship
Kate Middleton re-used a dress she first wore in America to Prince William's eco-awards—right before he announced that the next Earthshot Prize will be in the U.S.
The Duke of Cambridge hosted the project's first ceremony with £1 million ($1.38 million) handed to each of five winners with innovative ideas for solving climate change.
Guests were asked to wear recycled or upcycled outfits and the Duchess of Cambridge's appeared to hint at one of the evening's big revelations—that next year's ceremony will be held in America, on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's home turf.
Kate wore a dress which she first debuted on a past tour of the U.S., though not the 2014 tour of New York when she dazzled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in an off the shoulder ink blue frock by British designer Jenny Packham.
Instead, the duchess returned to a Grecian-style Alexander McQueen gown she first wore at a 2011 visit to Los Angeles when she drew crowds at a BAFTA Brits To Watch party, at the Belasco Theatre, on July 9.
Interestingly, on the same U.S. tour Kate and William came very close to Harry and Meghan's new home, in Montecito, when they went to Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.
At the time, William scored four times and was on the winning team, lifting a trophy presented by Kate.
Tickets went for between $400 and $4000 and the crowd had to be held back by security after attempting to storm the pitch, CBS News reported.
Quoted by the broadcaster, William said: "My father, the Prince of Wales, and my brother, Harry, were as green as that grass outside when I told them I'd be here today."
The club is 6.5 miles, or ten minutes' drive, from Harry and Meghan's $14.7 million mansion in Montecito.
There has been no official confirmation William and Kate will physically attend the Earthshot Prize 2022, however, the project is entirely William's creation under the umbrella of his and Kate's Royal Foundation—so they would be a notable absence if they missed it.
Either way, the decision lays down a gauntlet to the warring brothers—if they can fix their damaged relationship in time then climate change could be the issue that brings them together after years of tension.
If not, then the Duke of Sussex may find his brother taking the U.S. spotlight in autumn 2022—even as Harry's memoir, due towards the end of the year, is preparing to hit shelves.
William told the audience at Alexandra Palace: "I hope you agree that London and the U.K. has put on quite a show for our first year.
"So for the second year, we need to pass the baton to a country whose leadership is essential for all five of our Earthshots.
"Where better than the nation that inspired the moonshot all those years ago. I'm delighted to announce that the Earthshot Prize will be heading to the United States of America in 2022."
