Donatella Versace Attends King Charles' Black-Tie Dinner in Sexy Gown Covered in 1,500 Crystals (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Finnbarr Webster / POOL / AFP;Atelier Versace

The iconic Italian fashion designer, 69, glammed up for an evening with British royalty atHighgrove Houseon Friday, Feb. 7, to mark the couple’s upcoming state visit to Italy later this year.

Charles and Camilla are set to travel to Italy in April, where they will meet with Pope Francis, engage with Italian leaders, and carry out official duties in Rome and Ravenna. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the trip will coincide with the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary on April 9.

Versace, who was invited for her immense contributions to Italy and Italian culture, spanning the arts, fashion and philanthropy, wore a breathtaking Atelier Versace column gown for the event. She has helmed the famed fashion house since 1997.

Donatella Versace attends a dinner with Prince Charles and Queen Camilla at England’s Highgrove Gardens on Feb. 7, 2025.Ben Birchall - WPA Pool/Getty

Ben Birchall - WPA Pool/Getty

Per exclusive details shared with PEOPLE, her blush pink design was made with the house’s signature bustier silhouette, which features “a series of boning” that achieves a figure-hugging fit “like second skin.”

It was also crafted from hand-pleated silk chiffon, seen on the keyhole bustier, and over 40 meters of silk woven in Italy’s Como region, which holds a history of couture silk-making. Around 1,500 Swarovski crystals in tones of clear and rosalin or rose were applied to pleating arranged in a degradé effect.

Atelier Versace

With a curve-hugging silhouette on top, the dress was made fluid and effortless through a series of material drapes. All in all, Versace’s gown required the work of five Atelier artisans and 500 hours of hand-crafting and embroidering.

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Donatella Versace.Andrew Archeos

Andrew Archeos

Versace’s contributions to the fashion world go far beyond her work with the brand. Her innovative designs have solidified her as a key figure in the global fashion industry, while her influence extends into entertainment and culture. Celebrities, including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga, have worn her creations, further cementing her status as a dominant fashion force.

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source: people.com