Why Kate’s the Queen of Wimbledon
The Princess of Wales knocks it out of the court
As Wimbledon kicks off, it means Catherine, Princess of Wales takes centre court. And this year, she’s already thrown herself into the action, filming a video with Roger Federer to highlight the work of the Wimbers ball girls and boys.
Catherine, Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, appeared on film with the tennis ace, looking the part in her tennis whites. Enjoying a knockabout, she showed why she’s known as the Sporty Princess, when she hit a perfect shot. Roger laughed and said, “I think it was on the line,” adding, “amazing.”
She also executed a perfect catch, even if it isn’t technically allowed. When she caught a ball one-handed on the video, Roger asked, “Are you allowed to do that?” adding she could if she was in Australia, but not Wimbledon. “You are not meant to catch it,” ball girl Mollie told her. “You are meant to let it bounce and then get it, but good catch.”
Kerry wrote a piece about why we Love All Catherine does for the game, for The Sunday Telegraph. Here’s an extract:
She genuinely loves tennis: Catherine adores the game and is always snapped cheering, grimacing and putting her hands over her mouth in anguish at tense moments. She joins in with the crowd wave, such as with her dad, Michael, in 2021.
It’s a family affair: She attends on her own, with sister Pippa, Prince William and now, Prince George. He made his Wimbledon debut last year for the men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios and waved to the crowds, clearly enjoying the play. When asked where Princess Charlotte was, Catherine replied it was “George’s treat,” so we can probably expect to see Charlotte this year. Sadly, for us, it might be some time before Prince Louis joins them.
She keeps it real: Last year Catherine blew a kiss to her parents from the Royal Box and the Princess told the BBC documentary Our Wimbledon, tennis had always been a part of her life, growing up. She revealed mum Carole fangirls Roger Federer and the tennis ace “knows”, plus said she wrote a note to apologise to Andy Murray for missing his Wimbledon win in 2013 because she was about to give birth to Prince George. “I wrote to Andy Murray afterwards saying sorry for not being there, but huge congratulations,” she said.
She’s the Queen of Court Style: There’s really no contest – Kate’s courtside outfits are a hit year after year and her impeccable style sees her take the fashion crown. From her Roksanda yellow dress she wore for last year’s women’s final, to the pink Beulah London frock she sported for the 2021 men’s final and re-wore this week, her outfits are always winners. Other favourite picks are the green Dolce and Gabbana dress she wore in 2019 and blue Emilia Wickstead frock she wore to the men’s finals in 2019.
William’s Homewards project is a profoundly personal one
Like his beloved father and grandfather before him, on Monday William launched his latest highly-anticipated programme that, alongside his Earthshot Prize, will form a huge part of his legacy. Homewards, is an ambitious five-year project that the Prince of Wales hopes will lead to the end of homelessness across the UK.
The Royal Family have an outstanding record in terms of transformational initiatives, such as King Charles’s The Prince’s Trust (launched in 1976) and Prince Philip’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (founded in 1956). But, obviously, Homewards is also a project profoundly personal to William. His mother, Diana, was a passionate advocate of homeless charities and took both sons to The Passage shelter from a young age. She was patron of both The Passage and Centrepoint until her death, positions later inherited by William.
Speaking in Brixton on Monday, the Prince said: “After so many years in the making, today is the day we launch Homewards, a transformative five-year programme that will demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness. My first visit to a homelessness shelter was when I was 11 with my mother. The visits we made left a deep and lasting impression,” he continued. “I met so many extraordinary people and listened to so many heartbreaking personal stories. Too many people have found themselves without a stable and permanent place to call home.”
Inspired by a successful scheme in Finland, Homewards aims to have its six pilot locations (Brixton, Newport, Bournemouth, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield) on a roadmap towards ending homelessness by 2028. Through innovative housing projects and using William’s and the Royal Foundation’s convening power to bring together charities, councils and social services to enact “systemic change”.
During Monday and Tuesday, William visited all six places on a whistlestop tour, saying: “This will inspire belief throughout the UK, and beyond, that homelessness can be ended for good.”
Love and healing vibes for Sarah
As Sarah, Duchess of York revealed she is recovering from a single mastectomy for breast cancer, The Royal List wishes her all the best and a speedy recovery.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Sarah thanked her followers for their ‘kindness and support’, following the news that she had been diagnosed with an “early form of breast cancer” detected during a routine mammogram and had already undergone surgery. It’s reported she spent five days in London’s King Edward VII Hospital, before heading back to her Royal Lodge home to recuperate.
In a pre-recorded podcast, Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah, she said it was “vital” that everyone has cancer screenings and that “so many people” in her family had died from the disease. “But we’re taping the podcast today, and tomorrow I’m going for a single mastectomy,” Sarah said. “It’s very important that we speak about it, when it airs, I’ll have been through this. I don’t care if no one wants to hear from me, I’m telling you I’m doing this, and I’m telling people to go get screened.”
The Sussexes hand back their keys
This week, Harry and Meghan finally vacated Frogmore Cottage, when the last of their possessions were shipped off and they handed back their keys. Their tenancy had been ended, it was reported, after the publication of Spare. “We can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have vacated Frogmore Cottage,” courtier Sir Michael Stevens said.
It is expected to be rented out, in the week when the Palace’s expenditures were published, revealing expenses rose 5% last year. The Sovereign Grant Report, which came out on Thursday, showed total expenses of £107.5m, with the King drawing on £20million of his own reserves to meet the shortfall from public funds. Revenue was down last year, with the Crown Estate announcing a loss of half a billion pounds. Increased energy bills mean the King has ordered radiators to be turned down as low as 16 degrees in Buckingham Palace.
“This year’s statement covers a period of significant transition for the Royal Household, reflecting the Platinum Jubilee and State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, the Accession of The King, the lead up to Their Majesties’ Coronation, and the coming together of staff from two Households,” Buckingham Palace said.
Bid for Diana’s famous jumper
Lost for more than 40 years, the late Princess of Wales’s original black sheep jumper was found by its co-designer, Joanna Osborne, in an old wine box in the designer’s attic. Now you could own this piece of royal fashion history, as the special sweater is going up for auction for the first time.
Joanna, who founded the Warm & Wonderful label with Sally Muir, also discovered a letter from Buckingham Palace stating that Diana had accidentally damaged her much-loved jumper (there was a tear in the cuff), and politely requesting for it to be repaired or replaced. Diana was sent a new knitted one and her first-ever iconic sweater was packed away and forgotten. Until now.
The jumper will be auctioned by Sotheby’s New York, headlining their Fashion Icons online sale starting on 31 August until 14 September. With an estimated value between £40-£70,000, that’s torn it for us.