Princess Kate made her second official appearance of 2024 on Sunday as she attended the men's singles final match of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in London while continuing her treatment for cancer.
The princess stepped onto the famous center court to a standing ovation and rapturous applause from the crowd gathered to watch seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, 37, take on 21-year-old returning champion, Carlos Alcaraz.
Kate was instantly identifiable among the crowd, wearing a striking purple dress with chic capped sleeves, flared skirt and pleated cross-bodice detailing. The design was layered with symbolism linking Kate not only with the championship tournament with which she has become closely associated but also her royal status as a future queen.
The dress was designed by London-based brand Safiyaa, which was a favorite of Meghan Markle during her time as a working royal.
Kate wore a dramatic Safiyaa evening gown with medieval-inspired floor-length split sleeves back in November when she attended the Royal Variety Performance in London.
The dress worn on Sunday for the tennis is known as the brand's "Cecilia" design and retails for £1,295 ($1,681). It can be purchased in two variations, one with a low V-shaped neckline, or with a modesty panel raising the silhouette to a high neckline.
Kate's variation sported the latter neckline and while this may be seen as the more appropriate choice for a princess, it was in the dress' color that she displayed her keen eye for sending messages through her clothing.
The purple of the design was a nod to Wimbledon itself. The official colors of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, of which Kate has been patron since 2016 and which hosts the championships each year, are purple and green.
Each time she attends a match, the princess wears a small ribbon pinned to her chest featuring the purple and green stripes, a symbol of her club patronage.
In 2023, Kate paid a fashion tribute to the club by wearing an all green design. This year's all purple dress forms a touching pendant tribute.
Purple is also a color with a strong association to royalty, dating back to the days of the Roman empire where at points only the emperor could wear a purple toga.
There are no written rules on what colors members of the royal family in Britain can wear. Kate has worn purple sporadically since her marriage to Prince William, and increasingly since 2022 when she became Princess of Wales and she took on a more senior position within the monarchy.
The princess accessorized her outfit on Sunday with a pair of slingback low-heeled pumps and a top-handled bag in shades of nude.
Kate was photographed handing the trophies to winner Carlos Alcaraz and his opponent Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz won in straight sets.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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