The Duchess in Emilia Wickstead for Ladies’ Final at Wimbledon

The Duchess chose Emilia Wickstead for today’s Ladies’ Singles Final at Wimbledon. 

The Duchess ended her isolation period following exposure to COVID-19 with a trip to Centre Court at Wimbledon. Here is a quick video of the Duke and Duchess arriving at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton have arrived at #Wimbledon to attend the Ladies’ Singles Final of The Championships. pic.twitter.com/oKVAKs3PIg

— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) July 10, 2021

The Duchess has been the royal patron of the club since 2016, a patronage passed to her by The Queen.

The couple was at Centre Court to watch the match between Ashleigh Barty of Australia and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.  Below, 15-year-old Britley Fenning (L), who did the coin toss, Ms. Barty (C), and Ms. Pliskova (R).

This is the first time either woman has played in the final at Wimbledon. 

Having two first-timers in the Ladies’ Championship hasn’t happened since 1977.

You can see tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King seated in the royal box at Centre Court and Priyanka Chopra behind them.

Another view. 

Also at today’s match, Hayley Atwell (left), Tom Cruise (C), and Pom Klementieff (R). Both Ms. Atwell and Ms. Klementieff star in the upcoming Mission Impossible film with Mr. Cruise.

If curious about the setup, here is a wide shot of the royal box.

Other notable names at the match included Dame Maggie Smith, Lulu, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.  Here is another view of some of those seated in the box.

I think that may be Katherine Jenkins in the upper right with the blue and white print dress.

The Duchess and AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt.

The Duke and Duchess. 

Ms. Barty proved victorious in the match. 

More from the NY Times: 

Barty is the No. 1 player in the world and was the top seed but she was not considered a runaway favorite at the beginning of Wimbledon, a tournament she has never won. Just last month, Barty had to retire in the middle of her second-round match at the French Open with an injury to her left hip.

“This is incredible,” an overwhelmed Barty said as she clutched the trophy.

Applause for the competitors. 

Then it was time for the Duchess to head to Centre Court for the trophy presentation.

A wave for fans.

You also see the Duke of Kent with the Duchess (C). He has been President of the All England Lawn Tennis Club for more than fifty years.  Yesterday it was announced this year’s Championships are the last for the Duke.

The BBC reports, “The Queen’s first cousin, 85, has presented trophies to more than 350 winners including Bjorn Borg, Billie Jean King, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Sir Andy Murray.” Here you see the Duke watching today’s match with AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt.

A Buckingham Palace social media post about the Duke’s role.  

The Duchess chatting with ball boys and girls. 

Another view. 

A gift for Umpire James Keothavong. 

The Duchess awarding Ms. Pliskova the runners-up trophy. 

From The Telegraph’s coverage: 

…the match lived up – or even outperformed – the fans’ expectations. There was one moment in the second-set tie-break when everyone should have been fitted out with ear defenders. So loud were the roars that you might have imagined a passenger aircraft was taking off from nearby Church Road.

In these impassioned circumstances, Ashleigh Barty did a fine job of closing out a three-set victory in 1hr 55min. But Karolina Pliskova also contributed to the best women’s final we have seen on Centre Court in 15 years. Even Tom Cruise, ensconced in the public stands alongside a couple of elegant actresses, looked impressed.

The Duchess applauds the Ladies’ Champion.

Ms. Barty is the first Australian woman to win the championship since 1980, when Evonne Goolagong took the title.

Another view. 

We return to the NY Times piece: 

Barty idolizes Goolagong Cawley and paid tribute to her throughout this year’s tournament by wearing a version of her scallop-hemmed dress.

Barty said in her pre-tournament news conference that she had sought Goolagong Cawley’s blessing before going ahead with the plan; Goolagong Cawley’s excitedly gave it.

A round of applause for the players.

A Wimbledon tweet shows Ms. Barty as a youngster and then today as she held up her trophy.

The Duchess spent time with the Gentlemen’s Wheelchair Doubles champions, Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid.  

It was lovely to meet Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett too following their fourth men’s wheelchair doubles title today ? #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/9byuu9WVlk

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 10, 2021

Now for our look at what Kate wore. 

The Duchess was in a modified version of Emilia Wickstead’s Denver Dress ($762). 

The dress is crafted of a textured crepe material that is a blend of 82% polyester, 16% cotton, and 2% elastane.  The fabric is called cloqué, a jacquard with a raised pattern.  From the designer’s Resort ’21 collection, the frock was made in the UK. It features the fit and flare silhouette the Duchess is fond of, a round neck, cap sleeves, and concealed back zipper.

The Duchess has had darts added to the bodice and cap sleeves (shown below).  The dress is available in very limited sizing at Matches ($762, originally $1525) and in just one size at Moda Operandi ($831).

Thank you to Innominate93 for the speedy ID! Below, a full-length look at the dress. 

We saw the return of the Small Amberley Crossbody (£472, about $650) bag by Mulberry that Kate first carried to Wimbledon last week.

And the Jimmy Choo Romy 85 pumps.

Kate wore her hair down with a loose curl. 

She brought back a pair of Kiki McDonough earrings made with green amethysts, diamonds, and tourmaline.

She repeated her Maya Torque Aquamarine & Gold Bangle by Halcyon Days. 

It looked like she wore her Blue Phoebe mask (£15) by Amaia Kids.

At times during the match, the Duchess wore her Ray-Ban ‘Youngster’ Sunglasses in gradient brown ($153).

UPDATE JULY 11: With thanks to the UFO No More crew, it looks like the Duchess was wearing the Ray-Ban Chris style ($153).  The unisex design is described as having “a slightly more masculine shape with square lenses and a less circular frame shape. Chris RB4187 sunglasses have been crafted with a gummy and rubberized frame finish, giving these trendsetting sunglasses an exclusive textured feel.”  

Tomorrow we’ll see the Duchess at the Gentlemens’ Final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Matteo Berrettini of Italy.  Prince William will be at Wembley watching the Euro 2020 final with England competing against Italy. 

Below, one more shot of the Duke and Duchess as they walk across the bridge over St Mary’s Walk after the Ladies’ Championship. 

A very quick video from Kensington Palace. 

Well done to @Wimbledon and the staff on continuing to make the Championships such a special event. pic.twitter.com/eHc71TuBvy

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 10, 2021

In this video, you see Ms. Barty when she won the Girls’ Championship back in 2011.  

2011: Girls’ singles champion
2021: Ladies’ singles champion

The @ashbarty #Wimbledon evolution pic.twitter.com/T9f9kwz7Zt

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021

Here is a clip of the royals watching the match via the Royal Family Channel. 

 

LINKAGE: 

• The Daily Mail’s coverage is here; The Telegraph’s article about the match is here; The Mirror’s coverage is here; a Sky News piece is here;
• Victoria Murphy’s Town and Country story is here; People’s piece is here