The real meaning behind Kate Middleton’s favourite Wimbledon accessory

Avid royal fans may have noticed Kate Middleton wearing her favourite green an purple bow over the years. 

But even the keenest of fans may not realise that the royal’s go-to Wimbledon accessory is actually a symbol of royal patronage, gifted to her from the Queen.

Last week, the Duchess of Cambridge, 38, joined Sir Andy Murray, 33, for a video call with pupils from Bond Primary School in Mitcham, South London, to mark what would have been Wimbledon finals weekend.

The royal donned a £665 silk dress printed with tennis players, as well as a small purple and green bow pinned to her lapel – a favourite of the Duchess, who has worn the brooch several times over the years. 

Kate began wearing the accessory, which dons the official colours of the Wimbledon tournament, after becoming a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club – an honour passed on to her by the Queen. 

Last year the royal donned the bow on two separate occasions, donning a chic baby blue textured £1,210 Emilia Wickstead gown (left) and flared skirt and a green bespoke green D&G midi dress, estimated to have cost £2,150 (right) 

The All England Croquet Club was founded in July 1868 and the Duchess took over the role of patron in 2016 from the Queen, who had held the role for 64 years.

The present colours of dark green and purple were introduced in 1909 as the club’s previous colours, blue, yellow, red and green, were too similar to those of the Royal Marines. 

The ribbon is worn by mostly female members while males often wear a purple an green tie.  

Avid tennis fan Kate first wore the accessory in 2017, donning a white dress, with a vibrant floral print and ditched her customary clutch for a white Victoria Beckham tote bag.

Avid tennis fan Kate first wore the accessory in 2017, donning a white dress, with a vibrant floral print and ditched her customary clutch for a white Victoria Beckham tote bag

In 2018 she wore the pin with a bright yellow £575 Dolce & Gabbana dress, completing her look with her trusty ‘Sicily’ handbag, nude court shoes and delicate gold jewellery 

The Duchess of Cambridge is a huge fan of Wimbledon and attends the tournament every year. Pictured, with the Duchess of Sussex (centre) and her sister Pippa Middleton (right) in 2019

The following year she wore the pin with a bright yellow £575 Dolce & Gabbana dress, completing her look with her trusty ‘Sicily’ handbag, nude court shoes and delicate gold jewellery.

Last year the royal donned the bow on two separate occasions, wearing a chic baby blue textured £1,210 Emilia Wickstead gown with elegant capped sleeves, a square neckline and flared skirt and a green bespoke green D&G midi dress, estimated to have cost £2,150. 

This year’s Wimbledon fortnight has not gone ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the AELTC has instead run ‘Wimbledon Recreated’, a campaign to promote Wimbledon, tennis, and sport through coverage of archive matches.

In addition to £1.2m in donations from the Wimbledon Foundation to local and national charities, the AELTC is also delivering hot meals to the local community. 

Last month Kate narrated a special film on what would have been the opening day of the tournament. Pictured, the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton in the Royal Box in 2017

They are distributing strawberries to local hospitals, providing towels to the homeless through the charity Crisis, and tennis balls to clubs across the country through the LTA.

Last month Kate narrated a special film on what would have been the opening day of the tournament where she insisted that when the sporting event eventually returns, it will have been ‘worth the wait’. 

‘Three hundred and fifty days, 14 hours and 12 minutes between the last ball hit and when the next is meant to be. 

 ‘Over the years, your support has shaped this historic event. No matter the time of day or the names on the scoreboard, you have always been there, come rain or shine.’

She continued: ‘This year, sadly though, things are very different. But we will bide our time until we sit on the edge of our seats again and celebrate again. 

‘So, when the time is right and we open the gates, we will be back again and it will have been worth the wait.’