Spectator sports don't get much more stylish than tennis - and for the next fortnight, all eyes will be on SW19. Wimbledon fans, you see, like to dress for the occasion (see: Tessa Thompson's terrific tailoring), which means what happens in the stands is (almost) as riveting as the on-court action.
The royal box is pretty much your front row equivalent when it come to outfit-spotting opportunities. And if there's one person who knows how to serve a fashion ace on Centre Court, it's Kate Middleton. As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the Duchess of Cambridge isn't just a regular in the box, she's also called upon to present the players with their trophies at the end of the tournament so she's quite the pro.
Of course, the royal family has form when it comes to being fashionable tennis fans. Princess Diana favoured pastel-coloured suiting and pearls, bringing plenty of power-shouldered polish to proceedings. While Meghan Markle's striped shirt and wide-leg trouser combo won the style stakes (in straight sets) in 2018.
Kate Middleton's Wimbledon wardrobe tends to centre around a dress. For last year's men's singles final, she chose a dreamy pastel pink dress from Beulah London, accessorising with high street heels from Aldo. With its cinched waist (and strawberries-and-cream theme) it was the perfect outfit for staying cool in the most nail-biting sets.
In 2018, she gave sunshine yellow a spin with a sheath-style dress by Dolce & Gabbana (the second time she's worn that shade in the stands). Like the Queen, who is known to chose bright colours so that people can see her in a crowd, it was head-turning for all the right reasons.
Having said that, wearing top-to-toe white is always a good option. In 2019, she wore a tea dress by Suzannah, balancing a pair of sunglasses on her head as she walked around the grounds. What can we say? It's game, set, match to Middleton.
SEE: Royal Fashion At Wimbledon
