A controversial error at the Wimbledon men’s singles final by the usually faultless Princess Catherine could force the hand of fashion umpires.
At the women’s singles final Catherine’s cream dress from Self-Portrait, accessorised with a tote from Anya Hindmarch (not from the handbag designer’s collection for Woolworths supermarkets) was a flawless example of day dressing.
The streamlined silhouette was repeated at the men’s final in a cornflower blue dress by Roksanda, where Catherine presented the winner’s trophy to Jannik Sinner, but it was her choice of accessory that challenged tennis club etiquette.
Princess Catherine in her LK Bennett hat alongside Princess Charlotte at the Wimbledon men’s singles final.Credit: Getty Images
Catherine arrived at Wimbledon clutching a wide-brimmed, ribbon-trimmed hat from LK Bennett. During the final, Catherine wore the hat when the sun hit the royal box, while waving a fan to combat the effects of the London heatwave.
Having set the tone, Catherine was joined by Australian Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman, covering up in a panama hat from Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli. Kidman’s neighbour in the royal box, outgoing US Vogue editor Anna Wintour, relied on her signature bob and sunglasses for sun protection.
The dress guide for the royal box at Wimbledon advises: “Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them.”
This is the second time that Catherine has ignored the advice of the club, which she became patron of in 2016. In 2022, in a yellow dress from Roksanda, the Princess of Wales also wore the LK Bennett straw hat.
“Rules like not wearing hats are outdated and dangerous,” says Australian model Deborah Hutton, who founded the sun smart hat collection Canopy Bay in 2021, following her own experiences with skin cancer. “Melanoma rates are on the rise in the UK. At the tennis the sun is baking you. It’s insanity not to wear a hat of some description.”
“Here you have two style leaders, Kate and Nicole Kidman, who has been sun smart for years, leading the way and showing that while tradition is important, some rules have to change.”
Queen Mary of Denmark was recently spotted in a Canopy Bay hat. Hutton encourages Catherine to inspect the range.
Princess Catherine in Roksanda at Wimbledon for the men’s singles final and wearing Self-Portrait for the women’s singles final.Credit: Getty Images
“Kate looks wonderful, but her hat is not offering enough sun protection. You need fabrics that will protect you. Nicole has got it right.”
The £69 ($142) LK Bennet hat, which was restocked by the company last week, has sold out thanks to the enduring retail power of the Kate Effect, the term used to describe sales spikes driven by Catherine’s wardrobe choices.
Catherine’s decision to wear a hat shows a shift in public attitudes, with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex carrying but not wearing a hat in the royal box at Wimbledon in 2018.
Princess Beatrice wore a club-branded panama hat, handed out in 2022 by club officials, but Catherine is pushing the etiquette envelope, with her wide brim.
“She is always going to look great but this is a choice that makes a difference,” Hutton says.
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