Duchess of Cambridge is regal in red as she recycles Alexander McQueen dress for Buckingham Palace party

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Kate joined Queen to meet stars of stage and screen at Buckingham Palace
Duchess recycled red Alexander McQueen dress
Previously wore during 2012 Jubilee celebrations

Published: 17:30 EST, 17 February 2014 | Updated: 05:25 EST, 18 February 2014

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As TV and film royalty met members of the real royal family at Buckingham Palace this evening, the Duchess of Cambridge ensured she stood out at the star-studded event in a vibrant red Alexander McQueen dress.

Kate, 32, has worn the designer pleated skirt dress on previous occasions, most famously on the royal barge during the Diamond Jubilee river pageant of 2012.

On that day she accessorised with her trusty LK Bennett nude heels and a Lock & Co hat. For today's event, hosted by the Queen to celebrate the dramatic arts, she went for a less formal look.

She ditched the hat to let her glossy brown locks fall around her shoulders and substituted a patriotic tartan clutch she carried for the Jubliee event for a plainer black purse and matching black heels. She added an additional new touch to her look with long, gold earrings.

Scroll down for video...

Celebrating the arts: The Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen and Prince Michael of Kent (left) at Buckingham Palace this evening for the star-studded event

Re-worked look: Kate accessorised her red dress from Alexander McQueen's spring/summer 2011 collection with a black clutch and heels

Glamorous: She also ditched the hat to let her glossy brown locks fall around her shoulders and wore long gold earrings

The red dress has been worn by a number of celebrities since it made its debut on the spring/summer 2011 catwalk back in February 2010.

The former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos wore a sleeveless version of it for the reality show's auditions in July 2011. She wore the piece, with its flattering pleated skirt and neat peplum, with minimal accessories - just black stilettos and a slick of red lipstick finished off the look for Tulisa.

Reality TV queen Kim Kardashian has also been pictured in the dress when out in New York, adding some bling with a jeweled necklace and metallic clutch.

But thankfully none of the Hollywood stars and the giants of British film and theatre who joined the Duchess of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace this evening made the fashion faux pas of wearing the same outfit as style queen Kate.

Meeting Kate: On Sunday night, Prince William described Dame Helen as 'an extremely talented British actress who I should probably call granny'

Kate, pictured with Dame Helen Mirren, ditched the hat to let her glossy brown locks fall around her shoulders

Laughing: Dame Helen told a giggling Kate 'Your husband called me granny last night' - to which she replied: 'I know'. Above, the pair share a joke as Sir David looks on

The Duchess was introduced to many of the 250 stars present on the night, which celebrated the Queen's 60 years as patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Actresses Uma Thurman, Joely Richardson, Joan Collins, Gemma Arterton and Dame Angela Lansbury were all present at the glittering Buckingham Palace reception, as well as Sir Roger Moore, Alan Rickman and Ralph Fiennes.

Elegant Dame Helen Mirren, whose uncanny portrayal of the monarch over the years even prompted Prince William to joke on Sunday that he should call her granny, was also in attendance.

The award-winning actress was introduced to the Queen personally, although it is not known whether the pair discussed Dame Helen's regal role.

The Duchess was also introduced to many of the 250 stars present on a night celebrating the Queen's 60 years as patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the wider contribution that the dramatic arts make to national life.

Royal duty: The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge are pictured before the reception, during which they met 250 members of film royalty

Kate looks delighted to meet Helena Bonham Carter and Sir Trevor Nunn during the Buckingham Palace celebration

The duchess meets actors Joan Collins and Richard E. Grant at the reception celebrating the dramatic arts

Students form the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts perform songs from Oh! What A Lovely War to an audience including the Queen and Duchess of Cambridge, at the reception

The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge watch the performance (left) at Buckingham Palace. Right, Kate speaks with a guest at the Dramatic Arts Reception

The Duchess of Cambridge, met film and television stars, including Trevor Eve (pictured left) and U.S. actor Uma Thurman (pictured right) during the Dramatic Arts reception at Buckingham Palace

Inside the White Drawing Room, the Queen greeted a line-up of ten hand-picked celebrities, including Alan Rickman, Sir David Attenborough - representing his brother Richard, Lord Attenborough who was too ill to attend - Miss Marple star Dame Angela Lansbury, actress Jane Horrocks, British film director of 12 Years A Slave Steve McQueen.

Also present was comedian Lenny Henry, who made a joke about Helen Mirren's film performance as the Queen.

Pointing to the 87-year-old monarch and joking with McQueen, he said: 'This is Helen Mirren. She's brilliant.'

After meeting and greeting their guests, the Queen and Kate, who were also joined by Prince Michael of Kent, were treated to a 12 minute performance which included excerpts from Pygmallion and Oh What a Lovely War

LOOK! WE'VE SEEN KATE'S DRESS SOMEWHERE BEFORE... AND SOMEWHERE BEFORE THAT

De-ja vu: The Duchess of Cambridge's Alexander McQueen dress has previously been worn in sleeveless form by Kim Kardashian, centre, and Tulisa, right

Back in August last year Kim Kardashian wore the Alexander McQueen dress for a night out in New York

Tulisa Contostavlos wore her Alexander McQueen dress for X Factor auditionas last year. Her version was shorter than Kate's and also sleeveless

De-ja vu: The Duchess of Cambridge's Alexander McQueen dress has previously been worn in sleeveless form by Kim Kardashian, centre, and Tulisa Contostavlos, right, though 5ft 10in Kate had her version made longer

Fashion fashback: Kate paired the dress with her favourite LK Bennett nude heels and a tartan clutch when she joined Prince William for the Jubliee celebrations in 2012