When Kate Middleton arrived at Wimbledon today, she stopped by the Queue before taking in tennis on Court 18 and No. 1 Court. As of this writing, she has yet to sit in the Royal Box on Centre Court; however, the Royal Box was not without a member of the British royal family today. Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, was spotted sitting in the front row. Like the Princess of Wales, the Duchess chose a shade of bright blue to watch tennis. She also pinned a floral brooch to her collar.
It’s been a busy week for the Duchess of Gloucester, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday. On Tuesday, she visited the U.S. Ambassador to the UK’s London residence, Winfield House, for the “Grand American Jubilee” to mark America’s 250th birthday. She was solo as her husband Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, is in northern France with Princess Anne. Yesterday, the duo took part in a ceremony commemorating the 110th anniversary of the First World War Battle of the Somme, in Thiepval, France.
FRANCOIS LO PRESTI//Getty Images
The Princess Royal, center, and Prince Richard, right.
FRANCOIS LO PRESTI//Getty Images
The Duke of Gloucester yesterday.
Surprisingly, Birgitte isn’t the first member of her family to attend Wimbledon this year: Her youngest daughter, Lady Rose Gilman, was in the Royal Box for day two of the tournament. Other British royals have also been spotted, including the Duke of Kent on the first day of Wimbledon and Lord Frederick Windsor on the second day.
Karwai Tang//Getty Images
Lady Rose Gilman attends day two of Wimbledon.
The Duchess of Gloucester is a regular at Wimbledon; she was first spotted at the tournament in 1981 with Princess Diana and Diana’s sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
PA Images//Getty Images
Birgitte, left, and Diana, center.
She is the Honorary President of Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain. Kate became patron of the LTA in 2017, taking over from Queen Elizabeth. “We are excited to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as our Patron from 2017, and wish to thank HRH The Duchess of Gloucester for her continued and steadfast support as she remains in her role as Honorary President,” said Cathie Sabin, President of the LTA at the time.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.