Kate's VERY glamorous look at the Wimbledon box
For the past two years, have succumbed to the coronavirus, but yesterday Wimbledon welcomed the yellow fever touch the Duchess of Cambridge gave.
In the sweltering temperatures, Kate – wearing a vibrant £1570 Roksanda dress she first wore on a Caribbean tour in March – gasped, cheered and clapped as Elena Rybakina won the coveted women’s singles crown on Center Court.
The Duchess, who matched her dress with Kiki McDonough Eden Citrine and $4700 Diamond Flower Drop earrings and a $520 pair of Bulgari glasses, was blown away when Ons Jabeur, 27, the first Arab or African player to reach a Wimbledon final, won the first. sets in front of his 23-year-old opponent to win, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
But the result offers a potentially difficult moment for the Duchess as Moscow-born Rybakina escaped Russia’s ban from playing in the tournament as she switched to representing Kazakhstan in 2018.
And now there is speculation that his victory will be used as a propaganda coup by Russia
But the Duchess – patron of the All England Club – deftly handled the situation as she presented the Venus Rosewater Dish to Ms Rybakina, who still lives in Moscow, and gently patted the new champion on the elbow.
While his sister Anna was there, his parents did not travel to England, although he thanked them in his post-match interview on Center Court without mentioning his native Russia.
“My sister is here and it’s only the third time she’s come to watch so I’m glad she’s here. Without my parents, I wouldn’t be here for sure,” he said.
However, the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is likely to claim its SW19 victory.
The caption on player profiles on pro-Putin website Russia Today last week read: “Elena Rybakina: Meet the Russian star aiming for Wimbledon glory.”
And before the match, Shamil Tarpischev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, said: “It’s great that Elena will play in the Wimbledon final. He is our product. Of course we will support him.”
Rybakina insists she is not to blame for her birthplace. “I represent Kazakhstan and I can’t choose where I was born,” he explains.
As the one hour 48 minute match was on a seesaw, the Duchess had to hide behind her program during the high drama on the pitch.
Among those joining him on Royal Box are actor Tom Cruise and costume designer Heather McQuarrie, Killing Eve star Jodie Comer and singer Ellie Goulding.
The Duchess’ parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, were in the stands, as were Australian actresses Rebel Wilson and Dame Maggie Smith of Downton Abbey.
The Duchess will return today with Prince William to watch Novak Djokovic seek a fourth straight title, against Nick Kyrgios.
And while the memory of her first Grand Slam title will never leave her, Ms Rybakina was forced to admit: ‘Kate congratulated me and said I played really well. But I was so shocked, I think I forgot what he said.”
#Kates #glamorous #Wimbledon #box
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