The Duchess Isolating After Possible COVID Exposure & Wimbledon Outfits Over the Years

Today we hoped to bring you a post about the Duke and Duchess marking the National Health Service’s 73rd anniversary at St. Paul’s.   

Unfortunately, Prince William attended the service alone, along with a Buckingham Palace tea party for NHS workers, because the Duchess is isolating after being exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus. 

More from The Telegraph’s story: 

The Duchess, 39, was alerted on Friday afternoon and began isolating immediately. She was at Wimbledon on Friday, although she left earlier than usual after watching one set of Dan Evans’s match on Centre Court.

She took lateral flow tests before her engagements at Euro 2020 last Wednesday and at Wimbledon and both were negative, royal aides said. She also followed the rules about when to wear a mask throughout Wimbledon. 

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19. Her Royal Highness is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home.” 

Below, the Duchess at Wimbledon on Friday. 

The Telegraph piece notes, “The Duchess has had both vaccinations and is understood to test twice weekly with lateral flow tests as part of the Royal Household testing regime.”  For those curious about Prince William attending events today, the NHS guidelines stipulate that “any people you live with and any people in your support bubble do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms.” 

Because of the timing of things, I think it’s unlikely we’ll see the Duchess at Wimbledon matches or presenting trophies as she did two years ago.

I will update the post with any news and also share new information on Facebook.  Most importantly, the Duchess isn’t experiencing any symptoms. 

Because we won’t be having tennis coverage, I thought I would reprise a piece on Kate’s Wimbledon outfits over the years. We begin in 2011 with Kate and William’s first appearance at Wimbledon when they watched a match between Andy Murray and Richard Gasquet. The Duchess wore the Moraiah dress by Temperley London, with a fitted, structured bodice, hand-embroidered straps with rows of half-circles, and a tiered skirt with three layers of ‘floaty ruffles.’

When watching Roger Federer in 2012, the Duchess repeated a sailor-style dress from Alexander McQueen. The cable knit dress had a dropped waist, vee-neck with a self-tying scarf, and navy tipping accents at the hem, collar, and cuffs. It was first worn in Charlottetown during the 2011 North America tour.

Kate was joined by her sister Pippa for another 2012 match, this one with Andy Murray facing Roger Federer. The Duchess repeated the sleeveless ‘Vanessa’ dress by Joseph that featured grosgrain ribbon at the gathered waist, a scoop neck, and serged edges at the neckline and arm openings. She repeated a jacket that was also by Joseph, the brand’s Nessie style in white cotton with decorative pockets and buttons; it was first seen at the Epsom Derby in 2011.

After missing Wimbledon in 2013, when expecting Prince George, Kate returned for the Gentlemen’s Quarter Final match in 2014, repeating the ‘Roamer Day Dress’ by Zimmerman we first saw during the 2014 Australia tour. The broderie anglaise dress showcased a floral motif, with a fitted waist and sleeves, full skirt, and insert trim at the waist, sleeves, and hem.   

Kate also attended the Gentlemen’s Finals in 2014. She brought back the ‘Evelyn’ dress by Jonathan Saunders, another tour repeat, this one worn during the 2012 Jubilee Tour. It featured a structured design in a geometric print with short sleeves and self-belt.

The Duchess chose a piece by LK Bennett for a Gentlemen’s Singles match in 2015, the retailer’s ‘Cayla’ long dress in ‘cardinal red.’  Another fit and flare style, the Cayla hit well below the knee, with elbow-length sleeves and hidden zipper.

When watching Serena Williams take on Elena Vesnina in 2016, Kate brought back another tour design, the Roksanda Ilincic’ Ryedale’ dress in wool crepe. The colorblocked dress had a square neckline, inset fabric panels, and elbow-length sleeves. It was initially worn in Sydney, Australia, during the 2014 tour.

Also in 2016, the Duchess returned to Centre Court for the Gentlemen’s Final match. On that occasion, Kate sported an Alexander McQueen design in the brand’s ‘Obsessions Talisman’ print, described as having “…soft shoulders and military lines…that are a nod to the 40s silhouette.” In addition to the placed print, the dress also had an A-line silhouette, a jewel neckline, a fitted waist, and a hidden zipper.

In 2017 the Duchess wore Dolce and Gabbana to watch the opening round of Gentlemen’s Singles play. The polka-dot silk dress featured a fitted bodice with a full skirt, three-quarter sleeves, a scoop neckline, and a concealed zipper.

When it was time for the 2017 Gentlemen’s Singles final, Kate wore a Catherine Walker design. The white frock was a classic fit and flare design with the Fleurs Sauvages, or “Wildflowers” pattern, covering the skirt.

For Kate’s first Wimbledon visit in 2018, she was in Jenny Packham. The cream and black print dress featured distinctive ruching at the shoulder and hip in a print that resembled tennis balls.   

When watching the 2018 Gentlemen’s Finals match, Kate wore a vibrant yellow dress from Dolce and Gabbana. The knee-length design also had a fitted bodice, round neck, and ruffled sleeves.

In July 2019, the Duchess wore a Suzannah dress for her first Wimbledon engagement of the year.  Made of Italian silk crepe, the Flippy Wiggle Dress has pintucks at the front yoke and waist, half-sleeves with a button cuff, and contrasting silk-covered buttons.

For the 2019 Women’s Finals, the Duchess repeated a Dolce and Gabbana dress first worn during the September 2016 Canada tour. The piece was crafted of a stretch crepe fabric made of a viscose/acetate/elastane blend. Design elements include a fitted bodice, flared skirt, a ruffle at the upper shoulder seam, goldtone buttons, and concealed back zipper.

At her last Wimbledon match of the year, the Gentlemen’s Finals, the Duchess was in Emilia Wickstead. The custom version of the brand’s ‘Jordin Dress’ featured a classic fit and flare design, one of Kate’s favorite silhouettes. It also included a fitted bodice with a squared neckline, twisted strap detail, a midi-length hem, and a full, pleated skirt.

One note on comments: this is not the forum to discuss vaccine efficacy, the merits of wearing masks, the government’s guidelines, or anything else of this nature.