Kate's Latest Wimbledon Appearance Sparks Comparisons to Meghan's 2019 Outing — And It's Not Subtle
Kate made her much-anticipated return to the grass court on Thursday but her fun-filled day revived an old debate.
Kate Middleton made a much-awaited appearance at Wimbledon on Thursday. Sporting a chic blazer and trousers set, the Princess of Wales took on royal duties at the venue before moving to the stadium to watch the ongoing matches. Although she is the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Middleton has often opted out of the royal box, choosing to sit with the fans and watch the matches in the outer courts instead. This time, she did the same, unwittingly sparking comparisons to her sister-in-law Meghan Markle’s awkward outing at the grass court in 2019.
Markle had attended the Grand Slam in 2019 to support her close friend and tennis legend, Serena Williams. However, the royal box at Wimbledon follows a strict dress code. Women are not allowed to wear jeans, which the Duchess of Sussex had worn. So, she was reportedly not allowed in the royal box and instead chose to sit at Court No. 1 with two of her friends. However, the seats around Markle were shockingly empty. Although not confirmed, the rows and rows of empty green seats surrounding the group gave way to speculation that the Duchess’s security detail had deliberately requested it. However, a representative of AELTC had told ABC News at the time that they “did not know” if the seats around the royal were deliberately kept empty.
However, Middleton’s recent appearance at the Grand Slam has revived the sore controversy once again, as netizens took to social media. One X user wrote, “Side by side the optics are stunning. The way in which they are different speaks volumes about who they really are and what they represent,” while another added, “One is full of humility & the other vanity”. One social media user commented, "Catherine is adored by the A-list at Wimbledon along with the normal fans, Markle is the exact opposite," while another said, "It’s funny that Princess of Wales can go to Wimbledon mix with everyone sit in the crowds no drama no fuss no publicity seeking just getting on with it. Unlike some who clear rows of seats and make diva demands." One netizen mentioned, "The FUTURE QUEEN of the United Kingdom has just spent today wandering around mingling with thousands at Wimbledon today."
To add to the already unusual seating arrangement in the enclosure, match attendees had awkward interactions with Markle’s protection officers. A spectator told the UK’s Daily Telegraph that as she took pictures of Williams, a Royal Protection Officer tapped on her shoulder. “Would you not take photographs of the Duchess? She’s here in a private capacity,” he allegedly asked her.
Then the incident that sparked an intense backlash occurred. The security detail approached a man, believing he was taking a photo of Markle, but he was actually taking a selfie of himself with Roger Federer, who was playing on the court at the time. “I honestly couldn’t really care less about taking a picture of Meghan, Harry or any of the royals—and, if I did, I’d ask first," the man told The Sun, "I was much more interested in getting a video of Roger Federer in action.” Two photos of the incident were captured and reportedly not released to the public for more than a week.
As Prince Harry and Markle’s UK visit draws closer, the drama around their rift with Prince William and Middleton has intensified. It was reported earlier that the Duchess had wanted to attend Wimbledon this year to support Williams, who was returning to action. However, the tennis star was eliminated in Round 1 of the ladies' singles and sustained an injury, casting doubt on her doubles appearance and Markle's attendance.
