Kate Middleton had an unexpected red carpet moment at a glamorous London movie premiere, and her reaction was remarkably relaxed. The Princess of Wales, 44, briefly lost her balance after the train of her floor-length gown was accidentally stepped on while she attended the world premiere of Tom Cruise’s new movie, Digger, with Prince William on Sept. 22.
Rather than letting the mishap derail the evening, Kate quickly recovered and burst into laughter. The blink-and-you-miss-it moment happened as Kate made her way into the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square alongside Marcus Ryder, chief executive of The Film and TV Charity, and the organization’s chair, Claire Tavernier.
© Getty Images for Warner Bros.Tavernier accidentally stepped on the train of Kate’s dramatic purple Jenny Packham gown as the group came off an escalator, briefly pulling the fabric behind the princess and throwing her off balance.
Tavernier immediately appeared to realize what had happened and raised her hand in apology. Kate regained her footing and laughed as the group continued inside.
Kate Middleton’s Reaction to Her Dress Being Stepped On
There was no visible sign that Kate was bothered by the close call. Video of the incident shows the Princess of Wales recovering almost immediately before laughing about the mishap with Tavernier.
© Samir Hussein/WireimageA lip-reading expert later claimed that Tavernier said, “Oh I’m so sorry,” after realizing she had stepped on the gown. According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, Kate appeared to respond, “It’s okay,” while laughing. Because the exchange was interpreted through lip reading rather than clearly recorded audio, the exact wording has not been independently confirmed.
The near-trip was particularly understandable considering Kate’s choice of dress. Her rich purple Jenny Packham gown swept all the way to the floor and featured a flowing train, making it a standout look but also leaving plenty of fabric to navigate as she moved through the venue.
Kate Middleton’s Purple Jenny Packham Gown Had Royal Details
The dress was only part of Kate’s look. The Princess of Wales paired the Jenny Packham design with two significant pieces of royal jewelry: the Queen Mother’s Amethyst Sautoir Necklace and pearl drop earrings that previously belonged to Princess Diana.
© Getty Images for Warner Bros.The amethyst necklace has a history stretching back more than a century. It was given to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Mother, as a wedding gift in 1923. The striking piece features amethysts, pearls and diamonds.
Kate’s earrings added another family connection to the look. The Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, and have become a familiar part of Kate’s jewelry rotation.
© WireImageThe combination gave the evening plenty of royal fashion history, even before the unexpected dress mishap became a talking point.
Tom Cruise Reunites With Kate Middleton and Prince William
Kate and William’s appearance also marked a red carpet reunion with Tom Cruise. The couple previously joined the Hollywood star at the U.K. premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in London in May 2022. Four years later, they were back in Leicester Square for another Cruise premiere.
Before William and Kate arrived at the Digger premiere, Cruise spoke warmly about the couple.“I just love them. They are lovely people, and I have great respect for them,” Cruise told reporters.
© Getty Images for Warner Bros.Cruise also had a playful exchange with William after seeing the prince’s black velvet evening jacket, reportedly greeting the look with a simple compliment: “Great jacket.”
The actor later helped Kate navigate another potential gown challenge. As they headed toward the screening, Cruise offered the princess his hand while she descended a set of steps in her floor-sweeping dress.
Inside the event, Cruise publicly thanked the royal couple for attending and supporting the occasion. “We want to thank the Royal Highnesses for supporting this event,” Cruise said, adding that the filmmakers appreciated what William and Kate do “for the arts, for this country and for the world.”
Why Kate Middleton and Prince William Attended the Digger Premiere
The Digger world premiere served as the 73rd Royal Film Performance, an event benefiting The Film and TV Charity. The organization says the Royal Film Performance is its flagship fundraiser and helps fund support for people working behind the scenes across the U.K. film, television and cinema industries.
The charity provides services including a free confidential support line, financial wellbeing assistance, professional development resources and mental health and wellbeing support.
© Getty Images for Warner Bros.Digger, directed by Academy Award winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a powerful man racing to position himself as humanity’s savior after unleashing a potentially devastating disaster. The cast also includes Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons.
William and Kate met members of the movie’s cast and creative team during the premiere. They also crossed paths with David Beckham and his sons Romeo and Cruz, stopping to pose for photographs together. Kate was later seen chatting with Romeo and Cruz before giving them a thumbs-up.
