Kate Middleton laughs off wardrobe mishap at Tom Cruise's Digger premiere

The Princess of Wales attended the London premiere of Tom Cruise's film Digger on September 22, 2026, at the Odeon in Leicester Square, accompanied by Prince William. As Catherine arrived at the event, Claire Tavernier, chair of the Film and TV Charity, accidentally stepped on the train of her purple Jenny Packham gown while descending an escalator, briefly throwing the princess off balance. Catherine recovered quickly and laughed off the incident, with Tavernier immediately apologizing.

Catherine wore a floor-length plum Jenny Packham gown paired with two significant pieces from the royal collection: the Queen Mother's Amethyst Sautoir Necklace and pearl drop earrings that belonged to Princess Diana. The amethyst necklace, featuring a heart-shaped amethyst suspended on three rows of pearls interspersed with oval amethysts and diamond surrounds, was originally a wedding gift from Queen Alexandra to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Mother) in 1923. The necklace had been rarely seen in public — appearing only twice in the past century before Catherine's appearance, most recently worn by Queen Camilla at the 2012 Skyfall premiere. Diana's pearl earrings, created by Collingwood jewellers, were also worn at her 1981 wedding to then-Prince Charles.

Prince William wore a black velvet jacket to the event. Tom Cruise, 64, who has known the royal couple for several years and previously met William's late mother Princess Diana, attended the premiere alongside the cast including Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly. The royals also encountered David Beckham and his sons Romeo and Cruz, with whom they posed for photographs.

Digger sees Cruise transformed into a grey-haired oil baron dealing with environmental consequences, directed by Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film is scheduled for UK and US release on October 2, 2026. Critics' early social media reactions have been mixed, with praise for its artistic ambition alongside criticism of its execution. The premiere supported the Film and TV Charity, which provides mental health and financial assistance to industry workers.