Princess Kate's sweet tribute to Diana as she makes 'courageous' Wimbledon comeback
Princess Kate and Princess Diana were both seen wearing similar purple outfits and adopting similar poses as they watched the Wimbledon final 30 years apart
Royal watchers were thrilled to see the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, grace Wimbledon's final this year, despite her ongoing battle with cancer. Taking a break from her intensive treatment, Kate, alongside her daughter Princess Charlotte, made a heartwarming appearance that had fans buzzing.
Notably, sharp-eyed observers quickly pointed out Kate's touching tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. For the prestigious July 14 event, Kate dazzled in an exquisite purple ensemble by designer Safiyaa, mirroring the iconic hue Diana chose for Wimbledon three decades earlier.
Emulating Diana's legacy, Kate was seen sharing a moment with Charlotte during the game, reminiscent of how Diana watched with a young Prince William years ago.
A nostalgic comparison was shared by a fan on Instagram, who noted: "1991 vs 2024: Two loving mothers at Wimbledon."
The tributes didn't end with fashion and gestures; a striking coincidence also came to light. Prince William was just nine years old when he accompanied Diana to Wimbledon, the same age as Princess Charlotte during her recent visit, marking a poignant parallel between past and present, reports the Mirror.
Usually, children are not permitted in the Royal box, but exceptions have been made for Royal youngsters in the past. Prince George has joined his parents in the exclusive seats in 2022 and 2023.
However, this year, both Prince William and Prince George were missing from the event as they had jetted off to Berlin to watch England play Spain in the Euros 2024 final.
William and Kate have frequently attended Wimbledon over the years, sharing a passion for tennis that Diana also enjoyed. The Princess was a regular visitor to the tournament during the 80s and 90s, taking William with her for the first time in 1991 and again in 1994.
Diana's last appearance was in 1995, a year before her divorce from then-Prince Charles was finalised and two years before her tragic death at 36. Even decades after her premature death, her daughters-in-law Meghan Markle and Princess Kate, continue to draw fashion inspiration from the late royal, often subtly referencing her in their outfits and accessories.
Having assumed the title once held by Diana, experts have speculated that the new Princess of Wales, Kate, may have drawn inspiration from her late mother-in-law in choosing her striking purple ensemble for this year's Wimbledon appearance - notably, it was the first occasion Kate opted for purple at the event.
Bethan Holt, Fashion Director at the Daily Telegraph, remarked to PEOPLE, "Kate has a history of choosing clever, whimsical themes for her Wimbledon looks, and this was a new one. Wearing purple underlines how important that role is to her and why she chose this event to make her second public appearance of the year."
"It's also the colour of courage, which could be a nod to what she is going through," Holt continued.
