Princess Catherine’s recent public outing caused quite a stir. Social media users expressed concern about her physical appearance, while experts offered contrasting opinions.
Catherine Middleton, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presented the men’s final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz at the Wimbledon final on July 14, 2024. The Spanish native won the Grand Slam title in two consecutive years.
The Princess of Wales received a standing ovation upon entering the Royal Family Box on the Centre Court. For this particular event, Princess Catherine was accompanied by her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister, Pippa Middleton.
The trio witnessed Alcaraz’s win against fellow tennis player, Novak Djokovic, beating him in three sets. While that was the day’s highlight, Princess Catherine’s entry into the Royal Box was equally noteworthy.
A lip reader, Jeremy Freeman, analyzed Her Royal Highness and Princess Charlotte’s entrance on the court. As the mother and daughter arrived to take their seats, they were met with applause.
According to Freeman, Princess Catherine asked her daughter to “come over here” as they approached their seats. The nine-year-old appeared slightly confused, and her mother guided her along with Pippa following shortly behind.
The Princess of Wales thanked the woman who escorted them and waved to the crowd. She greeted spectators and commented to Deborah Jevans, “So sweet.”
Off the court, Princess Catherine, who is married to Prince William, introduced her daughter to Alcaraz, saying, “This is Charlotte, [she was] cheering you on. You had everything crossed.” Alcaraz replied, “Nice to meet you.”
Princess Catherine mentioned they had watched many matches on television while expressing that it was good to finally meet the four-time Grand Slam champion. Princess Charlotte, shy but smiling, stood next to her mother during the interaction, with Pippa grinning behind them.
Before presenting the trophy, Princess Catherine commiserated with runner-up Djokovic and shook his hand. She and Princess Charlotte also interacted with female tennis stars, including Emma Raducanu, who presented the mother of three with a bouquet of flowers.
Princess Charlotte, beaming, met with Raducanu, who had a recent defeat. She also met Lucy Shuker and made a “pinky promise” with the wheelchair tennis player to try the sport with her mother.
Asked about Princess Catherine’s appearance at the tennis tournament following her cancer diagnosis, Raducanu praised the royal’s strength. “I think it just shows her resilience and how much of a role model she is and it’s amazing to see her here looking so healthy and happy,” she stated.
This was the Princess of Wales’s second public outing amid her ongoing health issues. She made her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 at the Trooping the Color ceremony in June 2024 in London.
Following her public attendance at the tournament, online users expressed worry about Her Royal Highness’s physical appearance. Several people mentioned she looked slimmer than before.
“She is painfully thin,” said one user. Another echoed, “She looks too thin.” However, someone else noted the royal is currently dealing with health issues stating, “Well, that’s probably because [of] what she [has] been through. She is naturally slim, so even a few pounds lost will easily show.”
Meanwhile, other people wished the Princess well, with one writing, “She is beautiful but so so thin. I can’t wait to see her back to full health.” Another was happy to see her out and about, commenting, “Catherine is very thin, but it’s good to see her in public again. All the best to her.”
Body language expert Judi James analyzed the royal’s arrival at Wimbledon. James said the public figure appeared self-assured and cheerful alongside her child. She noted her regal appearance and demeanor in a bespoke dress from Safiyaa, stating it was neither low-key nor informal.
James explained, “The way she was walking suggests that she is feeling good about herself and has the inner strength to take this public appearance on independently.”
According to the expert, Princess Catherine’s only indications of inner nervousness or anxiety were two self-comforting gestures of smoothing her hair while stopping to shake hands and chat.
When the royal is at her best, she normally displays three distinct “tells”: an upright posture with arms at her sides, a dimpled smile, and a playfully wrinkled nose. She reportedly arrived showcasing at least one of these “tells,” walking with her arms hanging naturally at her sides.
Moreover, her daughter displayed growing confidence and independence. James noted that Princess Charlotte was gently guided by a touch on the back from her mom when it was her turn to move forward and shake hands.
She observed that the young Princess used her mother as a body language role model. As she stood waiting with her hands clasped behind her back, the royal noticed that her mom had her hands clasped in front of her torso. She quickly mirrored the Princess of Wales’ pose.
Her parent arrived to take her seat with a modest dip of the head as the crowd noticed her and the first roars of approval began. Princess Catherine’s eyes lifted in a gesture of greeting and recognition for the fan support.
Pausing to create a very sweet and touching tie-sign the much-admired royal expressed bashful, surprised delight. She showed her second signature “tell” of genuine pleasure with a dimpled smile as she raised one hand in a low, personal wave of acknowledgment and thanks.
James noted that Her Royal Highness displayed her third “tell” to Princess Charlotte as they took their seats. Gently guiding her into her seat, she showed her fun and good humor by wrinkling her nose as she laughed.
As the doting mom waved to the cheering crowds, Princess Charlotte’s body language revealed she is also her parent’s biggest fan. Looking up at her and leaning back slightly, she smiled with total pride, echoing the crowd’s reaction.
Another body language expert, Darren Stanton, also analyzed Catherine’s appearance at Wimbledon. Stanton claimed she appeared to be in good spirits and confident. He noted that Princess Kate was seen wearing purple at Wimbledon, a color that represents spirituality, calmness, tranquility, and communication.
Stanton added, “Dressed in a deep shade of the royal color purple and flanked by her wing-girl Charlotte, she arrived projecting signals of confidence and upbeat authority.” He highlighted Princess Catherine’s genuine smiles and direct eye contact during interactions, indicating she felt happy to be there.
Stanton also noted the royal’s firm handshake as a sign of her strong self-esteem and determination during royal engagements. He observed that when Kate walked, her shoulders were back, her head held high, and she took long strides. Stanton added that her choice of clothing subtly reassured herself, indicating she is currently in a good place.
Princess Catherine’s recent public appearance at Wimbledon highlighted her strength and optimism. While fans expressed concern over her physical appearance, experts provided a reassuring analysis of her demeanor. That said, she remains a beloved figure, admired for her grace and perseverance.
