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Kate Middleton Returns to Public Spotlight Looking Stunning in Purple—and with Surprise Guest

All eyes on the royal box

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Ever since Kate Middleton announced on Instagram in June that, post Trooping the Colour, she’d be attending a selection of royal engagements over the summer, royal watchers have been eagerly anticipating her return with their eyes on a singular occasion: Wimbledon.

kate middleton mens singles final purple dress 2024
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Even as the men’s and women’s finals neared this weekend, as of Friday, we still had no confirmation of her attendance—but then Saturday morning, Kensington Palace made it official: The Princess of Wales would be seated front and center in the royal box for the men’s singles final on Sunday and what is expected to be a heated rematch between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, a repeat of the very same showdown Kate watched with her family in 2023.

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Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Today, there she was—arriving at the tennis championship event alongside her daughter Princess Charlotte. In honor of the occasion, Kate wore Wimbledon colors in the form of a stunning purple midi dress from Safiyaa. She also carried a handbag from L.K. Bennett. This is only Kate’s second public appearance since revealing her cancer diagnosis in March of this year.

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Karwai Tang

Also in attendance and by her side? Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton, making the occasion a very special girls’ day out. (Pippa also attended the tennis tournament this past Friday, alongside her husband James Matthews.)

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Karwai Tang/Getty Images

The pressure is of course on as the multi-hour match kicks off—given her health, it’s no small task to be seated in view of the cameras for an extended length of time. But Kate has been patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016—a role that was passed down to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II—and it has long been a top personal and professional interest of the Princess of Wales to attend and support.

Will Kate give out the trophies, too? Like we said, the match is just getting started and, if it’s anything like last year, Alcaraz and Djokovic will be competing to the max. We can’t wait to watch.



rachel bowie christine han photography 100

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College