Spot the Princess! Kate recycles £1,335 polka dot dress as she opens women’s centre in Southampton

The Princess of Wales looked effortlessly elegant in polka dots as she opened a new charity premises in Southampton today. 

The royal, 41, opted for an Alessandra Rich midi dress – which she wore to the Wimbledon men’s final last year – to unveil Hope Street in the city centre.

Hope Street has been developed by the charity One Small Thing, which provides community-based centres for women in the justice system.

The redeveloped building will house five women who are deemed ‘low-risk’ after committing a non-violent offence.

The new centre will offer a community alternative for women who would otherwise be imprisoned unnecessarily due to a lack of safe accommodation or concerns around their wellbeing.

As such, Hope Street will offer accommodation to women and also allow them to remain with their children in a home environment.

During the engagement today, Kate was taken on a tour the newly-renovated facility by Lady Edwina Grosvenor, who is an English criminologist and founder of the charity One Small Thing.

The philanthropist is close friends with Kate – as she is married to Prince George’s godfather, the Duke of Westminster. 

By speaking with staff, supporters and partners, the Princess heard how Hope Street aims to prevent the trauma of mothers being separated from their children in the justice system.

Opening up about her experience in the justice system, Lily Lewis – who helped create Hope Street – told the Princess: ‘For me, prison is barbaric.’ 

The project – which has been independently monitored by The University of Southampton, The Prison Reform Trust and EP:IC – hopes to demonstrate how a compassionate and supportive approach to women in the justice system can have a transformative impact on lives. 

Kate’s stunning designer gown, which retails for £1,335 features a frilly V-neck cut and gold button-down detail. 

The mother-of-three styled her sophisticated dress with a pair of towering white high heels by Alessandra Rich., which she also wore to Wimbledon.

The Princess of Wales styled her luscious brown hair in her signature waves and opted for minimal makeup 

Kate, 41, kept her jewellery minimal – opting for a pair of gold pearl earrings to attend the openn

The Princess of Wales looked delighted as she greeted Lady Edwina Grosvenor, who is the founder of the charity One Small Thing

Lady Edwina Grosvenor (left) is married to Prince George’s godfather, the Duke of  Westminster

Hope Street will house five women who are currently in the justice system and will allow them to remain with their children

She then paired this with a box-shaped mini white bag by Mulberry. Opting for her signature blow dry, Kate kept her make-up minimal – opting merely for a brown smokey eye and nude lip. 

Kate finished off her outfit with a pair of pearl dangly earrings and wore no other jewellery other than her sapphire engagement ring, which once belonged to Princess Diana. 

The Princess of Wales has spent years raising awareness about the importance of early childhood and launched her Shaping Us campaign in January. 

Kate’s ongoing campaign aims to improve society’s understanding of the significance of early childhood in shaping adulthood and society as a whole. 

In recent months, the Princess of Wales has met with families who spent time in the care system to highlight the importance of strong relationships for children who experience trauma early in life. 

Spot on! The Duchess of Cambridge wore a £1,335 polka dot midi dress from go-to label Alessandra Rich for the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final last year

Earlier this year, Kate outlined the scope of her campaign and described it as a long-term project beginning with how a child develops and the importance of the formative years. 

Scientific evidence has shown that early experiences can affect children not only socially and emotionally but in their physical development too. 

Reports produced by the Early Childhood centre have revealed that the first five years shape future wellbeing more than any other stage of development, with our brains growing faster than at this time then any other. 

It also hopes to ‘break the cycle’ of parents who experienced difficult childhoods themselves.

Palace aides say the idea for the project began even before Kate became a mother.

The Italian-born, London-based designer Alessandra Rich has become a go-to for Kate in recent years – with the Princess of Wales previously wearing her designs to Prince Philip’s memorial service and on a royal tour of the Bahamas. 

The designer has previously said she is inspired by the ‘polite rebels’ of history, like Princess Diana.