Kate Middleton made a rare public appearance at Wimbledon in a selfless move deemed a stark contrast to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s conduct. On Sunday, The Princess of Wales stepped out to attend the men’s final of the Wimbledon Championships in her capacity as the patron of The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC). Kensington Palace confirmed her appearance earlier, leaving the world anticipating the Princess’ brave return to the public eye after a prolonged cancer treatment.
Royal historian Hugo Vickers shared his take on Kate’s latest appearance, and how it compares to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Speaking to The Sun, Hugo commended Kate Middleton and Prince William’s approach to supporting interests close to their hearts with actions like the Wimbledon appearance. He found it commendable that they did so, even with their hectic schedules, solely for the country. In contrast, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle only did things for personal gain. He quipped,
“When these things come up, they attend if they can. Kate and William’s love for the country is quite evident. How this contrasts with the public perception of Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the country – well this is all very sad.”
Going further, the royal historian cited these varying motives as the “big difference” between the Sussexes, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. To further buttress this, Hugo explained that through Kate Middleton’s Wimbledon appearance and Prince WIlliams’ supportive presence at the Euro 2024, the two have shown their commitment to doing “everything that they possibly can for the United Kingdom and for the Commonwealth.”
By extension, they continue supporting the monarchy, while Harry and Meghan only do things for themselves. The royal historian also praised Kate Middleton’s selfless decision to attend the tennis tournament final at Wimbledon despite her ongoing cancer treatment.
Kate Middleton’s Return to Public Eye Sparks More Meghan Comparison
Several royal fans share these sentiments, sparking comparisons between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. Netizens have since dug out references to Meghan’s past Wimbledon appearance, where she seemingly proved her self-centered nature.
In July 2019, the Suits alum famously appeared at the 2019 women’s tennis tournament to support pal, Serena Williams. However, she sparked controversy at the time for clearing out a row of expensive seats to remain “exclusive” after being denied entry into the royal box for wearing jeans. She also barred people from taking photos of her at the public event, leading to her branding as “childish,” and “a control freak.” Reacting to the recollection of Meghan’s Wimbledon moment, one Reddit user wrote,
“I love this is being re-visited today after Kate’s great outing the other day. Never forget.”
Another wrote,
“Such a stark contrast in character and personality between the [Princess of Wales] and our Saint. No comparison, really. And so many had such high hopes for our Saint in the beginning, though true to form, the facade wasn’t strong enough to conceal the real person.”
Netizens also fondly recalled Kate Middleton’s Wimbledon appearance, and her charismatic conduct, which portrayed her as the “better princess.” The 42-year-old attended the tennis tournament on Sunday, July 14, in the company of her daughter Princess Charlotte. The royal mom, clad in a purple dress, sat alongside her daughter in the front row of the royal box, attracting a standing ovation from the crowd in the packed stadium. For many, the warm reception solidifies Kate Middleton as a worthy people’s princess, especially when compared to Meghan Markle’s past Wimbledon appearances.