The Princess of Wales revisited a Beulah London outfit for the grand reopening of the Young V&A Museum.
In the images above and below, the Princess is greeted by Tristram Hunt, the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Young V&A welcomes the public starting Saturday.
Since March 2018, she has served as the royal patron of the V&A.
The Young V&A, formerly known as the V&A Museum of Childhood, has been revitalized after a significant renovation—details can be found in this Guardian article by Oliver Wainwright.
Following a three-year, £13m renovation, the once dim building now bursts with vibrant energy and playful elements, aptly renamed the Young V&A.
Every aspect has been carefully considered, transforming every space into an opportunity for delight. It’s a masterclass in meticulous design, making one wonder why adult spaces can’t be equally uplifting.
The Princess is seen pointing at an exhibit featuring Kermit the Frog in this photograph.
Students from Globe Primary School were present to explore the newly designed space.
These students have been part of the redesign process since its inception. Below, students discuss their ideas with Gill Lambert (2nd L), an architect from AOC Architecture, back in June 2019.
Designed in collaboration with children and young people, the Young V&A is a free, national museum that celebrates the role of creativity in children’s lives, helping them develop skills and confidence to navigate a rapidly changing world.
The museum is envisioned as a ‘doing’ museum—a place filled with joy, activity, and optimism, all underpinned by the power of design and creativity.
More insights into today’s event are provided in India McTaggart’s article for the Telegraph.
The Princess shared that her three children are constant storytellers as she inaugurated the new Young V&A museum.
Engaging with the children in various galleries, she observed their creations and listened to their narratives.
She even participated in a mock submarine assembly, humorously securing herself with an imaginary seatbelt, and playfully inquired, “Do I strap myself in?”
The museum director expressed his appreciation for the Princess’s visit, noting her genuine interest in the museum’s focus on early childhood development and her attentive interaction with the children’s stories.
As the Princess prepared to leave, the students eagerly offered hugs and presented her with “Little Bags of Wonders” for her children.
Why the “Shhh”? According to The Daily Mail, the Princess playfully disclosed her age to a group of curious students during the reopening, whispering, “I’m 41, shh don’t tell anyone,” as they greeted her with hugs.
The bags contained notebooks, toys, and other delightful items.
Globe Primary School shared images from the event on its Twitter page.
As she departed, the students presented the Princess with gifts for her children.
For more on what the Princess wore, she donned the Beulah London Ahana Crepe Midi Dress, a piece she previously wore to Wimbledon in July 2021. The dress, crafted in London from 100% wool, features a fit and flare silhouette with a loop and button front closure, a stand collar, a self-belt, concealed side zipper, puffed short sleeves, and a keyhole opening at the sleeve hem.
The Ahana design has been a favorite among royal women, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Princess Beatrice, and Sophie Winkleman, who have all sported this design at high-profile events.
More details about the dress’s popularity among royals can be found in this Vogue Australia story.
Here is the Princess in the dress back in 2021.
Accompanying her outfit, the Princess wore Romy 85 Pumps in white leather by Jimmy Choo and ‘Empress’ earrings by Mappin and Webb, showcasing her elegant style.
One more snapshot from today shows the Princess waving goodbye as she leaves the Young V&A.
