Can we all stop comparing Catherine to Princess Diana?
Three children. Brexit. Megxit. Prince Andrew. Some earth-shattering bereavements. Huge private health battles and an unwavering commitment to her job. Catherine’s apprenticeship is over and her latest Wimbledon appearance proves it.
Can we please stop invoking the ghost of Diana in every public sighting of Catherine, Princess of Wales?
Sure, the new princess possesses many elements of the late Queen of Hearts’ warmth, style and a fair share of beautiful jewellery, which would no doubt carry more sentimental than monetary value for her (and her fans).
It’s been years now.
Three children. Brexit. Megxit. Prince Andrew. Some earth-shattering bereavements. Huge private health battles and an unwavering commitment to her job in the family business.
Her apprenticeship is over.
She is the star of the British monarchy, she is the mother/sister/daughter of the nation, and it’s belittling to her when she is breathlessly compared to Princess Diana.
Especially by gossip writers and fashion magazines “in a nod to her late mother-in-law”. It is equally icky as she convalesces from an illness that saw her facing her own mortality.
A grown woman choosing to wear an ‘insert colour of dress here’ as once upon a time Di did also is a common refrain when Catherine goes to work.
It’s as tiring as her brother-in-law’s public whinging.
Her return to the Royal Box at Wimbledon for the highly anticipated women’s final at the weekend marked a shift.
As the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis And Croquet Club, a role she cherishes since assuming the role from the Duke of Kent in 2016, she has only missed the tournament once – back in 2013 when she gave birth to Prince George a few days after Andy Murray won his first singles title at home.
She is on the record saying she grew up glued to the game and there are photos of her attending with friends back in the early 2000s.
She also told Prince George to stop complaining about the heat when he made his Wimbledon debut, albeit the poor tyke was dressed in a full suit. “You’re fine. Think of all those people sitting in the hot sunshine,” she told him.
Wimbledon is to Catherine what the exclusive nightclub Boujis was to Kate Middleton.
She appears most happy, relaxed and at home wandering the grounds, helping to cut strawberries and learning the tricks of the ball girl and ball boy trade. They’re just a few extra-curricular activities she’s undertaken since marrying into The Firm.
She also attended with her father, her sister and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on a number of occasions. Upon reflection in this post Spare and “As ever” world, perhaps that was a public nod to how important family and the business are to her. A classic Queen Elizabeth II move.
In 2024 she rallied and Wimbledon was only her second public appearance that year as she underwent medical treatment. She was then greeted with a standing ovation. Something that is looking to be a new Catherine tradition as it happened again as she entered Centre Court for the women’s final at the weekend.
She looked resplendent in an all-white pleated and pocketed ensemble by London label Self Portrait. A style that was more Philip Ruddock than Princess Di.
The energy of her welcome overwhelmed the princess as she appeared to become emotional as she waved and took her seat.
The energy of the women’s circuit right now is electric and the fairytale on the court mirrors that of Catherine.
It started with American Amanda Anisomova’s shock defeat of world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semis before she fell short in the final to Iga Swiatek.
The 8th seed took a break from the game in 2023 for her mental health amid burnout fears.
At the weekend the 24-year-old became just the second player in the Open era to win a championship without losing a game. Swiatek has now won majors on all surfaces.
It was the first time a woman has won at the All England Club without dropping a game since Britain’s Doretha Lambert Chambers in 1911. Her time at Wimbledon was marked by jubilant crowds, who were cautioned for popping champagne in between her serves.
The similar story arcs of the new champ and the new(ish) Princess of Wales was sweeter than a cool Pimms on a hot day.
Here’s to the here and now.
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