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A new wax figure of the Princess of Wales has been unveiled by Madame Tussauds London.
The lifelike model of Kate, 43, joins replicas of her husband Prince William, and King Charles and Queen Camilla in a new scene on display at the popular Baker Street tourist attraction from Thursday.
The figure is modelled on the outfit the royal wore to the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2023, the second of King Charles’s reign.
There, Kate wore a dusky pink Jenny Packham gown, silver Gianvito Rossi Rania 105 pumps – and her favourite Lover’s Knot Tiara, previously worn by her late mother-in-law Princess Diana.
The look is completed with the Royal Victorian Order blue sash, the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II and replicas of the Greville Diamond Chandelier earrings.
Prince William’s figure has also received a restyling in honour of the new display, now wearing a black Ede and Ravenscroft tuxedo and a white tie.
Madame Tussauds first launched a wax figure of Kate in April 2012, one year on from her wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey.
The figure has been ‘refreshed from tiara to toe’ in honour of the Prince and Princess of Wales recently celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary.
A new wax figure of the Princess of Wales has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London
The extraordinarily lifelike figure will join a revamped Prince William on display at the Baker Street tourist attraction
Guests will be able to meet the figures from Thursday, which are on display in the ‘Royal Palace Experience’ section of the exhibit.
Jo Kinsey, Madame Tussauds London’s Studio Manager, explained that it took 12 artists 12 months to create every single detail of Catherine’s look, while an in-house team took five months to replicate her costume.
Steve Blackburn, Senior General Manager at Madame Tussauds London, said: ‘We are delighted that a new figure of the much-loved Catherine, Princess of Wales, has officially landed in The Royal Palace Experience at our attraction in the heart of London, continuing our centuries-long work with the Royal Family.
‘Only Madame Tussauds London can offer fans the truly immersive and unique opportunity to touch shoulders with past and present Royal Family members!
‘Kate, majestically crafted by our talented studio team, has been sculpted to ensure her resemblance is fit for a future Queen, alongside her dashing husband.
‘We cordially invite you to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales this summer, right in the heart of the capital where the Royal Family resides!’
For the reception in 2023, on which her figure is based, Kate wore the ‘Georgia’ gown from Jenny Packham, costing approximately £5,000, which was embellished with sequins.
She previously wore the design to the wedding reception of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa in June 2023.
The figure is modelled on the outfit the royal wore to the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2023 (pictured)
The new Princess of Wales wax figure that will stand alongside her husband, Prince William and King Charles III and Queen Camilla, at the Baker Street attraction’s Royal Palace Experience in London
Finishing touches being made to the new wax figure after months of work to create the likeness
The figure has now been ‘refreshed from tiara to toe’ in honour of the Prince and Princess of Wales recently celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary
Her Greville diamond chandelier earrings meanwhile previously belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth
Jo Kinsey, Madame Tussauds London’s Studio Manager, explained that it took 12 artists 12 months to create every single detail of Catherine’s look
Guests will be able to meet the wax Princess of Wales from Thursday at the Baker Street experience
Her Greville diamond chandelier earrings meanwhile previously belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.
The tiara, which Kate’s mother-in-law said was so heavy it gave her headaches, was kept in a safe at Buckingham Palace after Princess Diana’s 1997 death before it was handed to William’s wife.
It was made by Royal jewellers Garrard in 1914 to Queen Mary’s personal design, from pearls and diamonds already in her family’s possession.
When the wax figures of Kate and William were originally launched in 2012, they sported the outfits they wore when they got engaged.
At the time, it was said the figures cost £150,000 each to make and took a dedicate team of artists four months to create.
Visitors were captivated by their accuracy – made even more remarkable by the fact that artists worked purely from photographs and videos of the couple, who were too busy to attend a personal sitting.
In 2014, the figures were revamped by the studios to don evening wear instead.
Meanwhile, the figures of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were separated from their family in January 2020 after they decided to step back from royal duties.
In 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reunited at last with the Queen, Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton – in wax
Previously, Kate’s figure dazzles with a pair of earrings to accompany her sparkling emerald Jenny Packham gown
The waxworks were placed in a new Awards Party zone along with their showbiz friends like George Clooney and then-pals Victoria and David Beckham.
The waxwork of Meghan was unveiled 10 days before the royal wedding, with Prince Harry joining her in front of an interactive screen with different backgrounds.
Wax replicas of the pair previously stood next to the Queen and Prince Phillip, with Kate Middleton and Prince William on the other side.
Steve Davies, previous General Manager at the museum, said at the time: ‘Meghan continues to carve out her own modern take on life as a royal, and we want to mirror her independent celebrity status in the attraction.’
The figures were removed from the rest of the royal set with the venue tweeting: ‘We’ve got to respect their wishes #Megxit.’
He added: ‘Alongside the rest of the world we are reacting to the surprising news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be stepping back as senior royals.
‘From today Meghan and Harry’s figures will no longer appear in our Royal Family set.
‘As two of our most popular and well-loved figures they will of course remain an important feature at Madame Tussauds London as we watch to see what the next chapter holds for the them.’
The original figures of William and Kate unveiled by Madame Tussauds in 2012 wearing their engagement outfits
The couple were revamped in 2014, donning evening wear instead
However, the wax couple were briefly reintroduced to the royal fold in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Madame Tussauds is a popular tourist attraction in London, with a reported 10 million guests each year.
It offers fans a chance to take selfies and snaps with their favourite celebrities, if they’ve been unable to meet them in person.
Last week, the Princess of Wales delighted fashionistas as she presented The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design – and championing UK creatives, Kate showed her support for another sartorial legend, Victoria Beckham.
Catherine attended an event held by the British Fashion Council at London’s 180 Studios to celebrate the impact of young British creatives and the UK’s thriving fashion industry, as well as recognise designers who are leading the way in sustainable practices and making a positive impact on the environment.
Paying homage to yet another icon in the industry, Kate was typically sophisticated in a stunningly tailored khaki power suit from Victoria Beckham – amid the designer’s alleged ‘feud’ with her eldest son and his wife.
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz have been at the centre of a bitter family fall out, with tensions culminating in a no-show at David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash – with the rift sparking comparisons to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure from the Royal Family.
For the event, Kate donned VB’s patch pocket jacket, retailing for £850, and matching £490 ‘Alina’ trousers, both in the colour ‘willow’.
The royal teamed the earthy look with a white ruffled blouse, with a buttoned-up collar as well as brown leather heels.
Wearing her chocolate tresses down in loose waves, Kate also opted for a glamorous make-up look with smokey eyes and a dusky pink lip.
The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was first presented to Richard Quinn in February 2018 – when Queen Elizabeth II made her first visit to London Fashion Week.
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