Kate Middleton breaks long-standing Wimbledon tradition with fashion change

Kate Middleton breaks long-standing Wimbledon tradition with fashion change The Princess of Wales broke with a long-standing Wimbledon tradition with her choice of outfit for the fourth day of the Championships The Princess of Wales made a bold departure from her personal Wimbledon tradition as she made her first appearance at SW19 this year. Princess Catherine was all smiles on day four of the Championships, arriving in a sharp blue linen suit with her hair swept back into a high ponytail — though her ensemble notably lacked the brooch she customarily wears to the prestigious sporting event. Before heading inside the venue, she stepped out to greet tennis fans who had been queuing since the early hours in the hope of securing one of the sought-after ground passes. Kate, who completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge last weekend to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Hospital, will no doubt have felt a certain kinship with those waiting patiently for a ticket. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page Back in 2023, the princess revealed to British number one Emma Raducanu that she used to do exactly the same thing, rising at "the crack of dawn" to join the queue alongside her father, Michael, and sister, Pippa. "I used to do that. It meant so much to be able to get the ground passes and be part of the championships," she said. After chatting with volunteers handing out tickets, Kate quietly made her way to Court 18, where she watched Britain's Arthur Fery face Finland's Otto Virtanen, joined by former British number one Tim Henman and All England Club chair Deborah Jevans. Those seated courtside may well have clocked a subtle shift in the princess's trademark Wimbledon look. Ordinarily, Kate wears a deep green and royal purple brooch when making her appearance at the Championships. Yet on this particular occasion, she chose to forgo the accessory entirely. The eye-catching bow reflects the official colours of the tournament and represents her position as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the exclusive private members' club that stages Wimbledon each year. It is a highly coveted emblem, with only the patron, president, committee of management, vice-presidents and a select number of senior staff permitted to wear it. Precisely why Kate decided to leave the brooch behind remains unclear. A devoted tennis enthusiast, the Princess inherited the prestigious patronage from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2016, who had held the role for 64 years. As part of her duties, she presents the trophies to the victorious men's and women's singles champions each year and is a familiar face in the Royal Box on Centre Court. Kate is also said to be an avid player herself and even had a tennis court constructed within the grounds of Anmer Hall, the Norfolk country retreat she shared with the Prince of Wales and their three children. Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL. Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.