A royal expert says the outfit includes "a nod to what she is going through."
Kate Middleton made a triumphant return to the spotlight with an appearance at Wimbledon over the weekend, adding one more tally to her record of outings since she shared her cancer diagnosis. After appearing at this year’s Trooping the Colour, she gave everyone another major moment when she had her very first solo appearance of the year at Wimbledon in a purple midi-length dress by Safiyaa that contained multiple references to the royal family, her current situation, and hope for the future.
“Kate has a history of choosing clever, whimsical themes for her Wimbledon looks, and this was a new one,” Bethan Holt, fashion director at the Daily Telegraph, shared with People. “Wearing purple underlines how important that role is to her and why she chose this event to make her second public appearance of the year.”
Kate finished her look with a clutch from one of her favorite brands, LK Bennett, gold hoop earrings from By Pariah, and kitten-heel slingbacks with pearl details by Camilla Elphick. She added a purple-and-green ribbon known as a Committee bow, which she has worn previously when taking in games from the royal box.
People adds that purple is one of the official colors of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, of which Kate is a patron, and it's also a color that Queen Elizabeth often wore when she attended the annual tennis tournament. Historically, purple has been associated with the royal family and Holt adds that, at the moment, may be significant to Kate's health.
"It's also the color of courage, which could be a nod to what she is going through," Holt explained. "I think she looked glowing and radiant, and it was lovely to see her looking so relaxed. I'm sure lots of people will have seen how happy she looked and taken reassurance from that. She really is a kind of beacon of hope for many but that also comes with a lot of pressure."
Holt also added that Kate's presence at Wimbledon may have offered the public a little bit of confirmation that she's doing well and that things are progressing nicely with her treatments.
"I do think just her presence can really lift people’s mood," Holt continued.
Elphick explained that Kate's look was reassuring to fans, since it was familiar thanks to its A-line silhouette, though its draped details and the princess's bouncy blowout and bright pink blush felt fresh and new.
"It was very much Kate’s princess uniform in a shape that really works for her, and it all felt very familiar," Elphick said. "Although the earrings were a little edgier than usual, it was a really beautiful look."
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