The inaugural Earthshot Awards on Sunday night provided a great opportunity for Prince William and Kate Middleton to not only fund their important work, but also navigate the future direction of the next generation of royals. So, of course, it was great to see the royal pair show up for the awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London.

The Earthshot Prize, launched this year by Prince William, will select five winners from a pool of finalists who have made significant contributions to the fight against climate change. Each winner will receive 1 million pounds (about US$1.4 million), and a new winner will be created each year until 2030. This is a testament to the commitment of Prince William and the rest of the Royal Family to environmental protection. Earlier this week, Prince William said in an interview that he thinks it would be a "disaster" if Prince George, who aspires to be an environmentalist himself, has to worry about climate change as an adult because his parents' generation did not do enough.

According to the "Express," organizers had asked invited guests to "consider the environment" when choosing what to wear to the awards ceremony.

But the message of Kate's outfit of choice, a gorgeous McQueen pleated gown, is more subtle. In fact, this gown is one she had worn to the 2011 BAFTA Awards:

What she was trying to say, and it sounded clear, would be that it is not necessary to buy an entirely new outfit for every event to get attention. Overconsumption is an environmental problem, and it is truly inspiring to see even the most fashionable royalty take that message to heart.

The Earthshot Awards will be presented on Sunday at 8pm BST. For more information on the finalists and winners, visit the official website.