Kate Middleton Returns to Wimbledon in Royal Purple, With ...

Following her surprise appearance at Trooping the Colour in June, Kate Middleton took her seat in the Royal Box at Wimbledon today to watch Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz face off in the Gentlemen’s Singles Final. In a break from her usual SW19 style, the Princess of Wales wore a custom version of Safiyaa’s Cecilia dress in Wimbledon purple for her turn on Centre Court. Joining the Duchess of Cambridge to watch the match? Both Pippa Middleton and Princess Charlotte, who has reportedly been “really taking care of her mum” throughout her treatment.

Photo: Getty Images

Kate has, of course, been a fixture in SW19 since joining the royal family 13 years ago, becoming Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016. Not only is she one of the tournament’s most animated spectators, she’s also taken part in ball girl training with Roger Federer, and—following Emma Raducanu’s Grand Slam win in 2021—even had a lesson with the former British No 1 at the National Tennis Centre.

Princess Charlotte wore polka dots for the outing, a favorite print of her mother’s.

Still, there was doubt about whether Kate would be able to attend this year’s event. In an update on her health in June, the Princess wrote that, while she was “looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade,” she was “not out of the woods yet” when it came to her cancer treatment. “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days, you feel weak, tired, and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

Photo: Getty Images

As for the Prince of Wales? As President of the Football Association, William traveled to Germany on Sunday to watch the Euros finals at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. And he isn’t the only Windsor who will be gripped by the match. “My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the UEFA European Championship—and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match,” the King wrote in a message to the England team after they defeated the Netherlands on Wednesday. “If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last-minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!”