Royalty, Glamour at Wimbledon
Duke of Kent Joins Royals and Celebrities in Wimbledon Royal Box
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Key Points
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Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, died at age 92, making her the oldest living royal at the time of her death; she had dropped her HRH title to be known simply as Mrs. Kent and spent more than a decade teaching music at a primary school in Hull.
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On June 13, the Duke of Kent was filmed on the Buckingham Palace balcony pulling out his mobile phone to record the RAF flypast and the Trooping the Colour, a viral moment that underscored his willingness to engage with modern technology in public appearances.
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Lady Susan Hussey, Queen Elizabeth II’s former Lady of the Bedchamber, attended Wimbledon but is historically linked to the Buckingham Palace controversy in 2022, when she resigned following a racist incident involving Ngozi Fulani and discussions about race and palace protocol.
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Kate Middleton remains patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), while the Duke of Kent is a former patron, highlighting the long-standing royal linkage to Wimbledon.
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The Duke’s extended family connections were further illustrated by the wedding of his granddaughter, Lady Marina Windsor, to Nico Macauley in Yorkshire, an event noted in coverage of his Wimbledon appearance.
The Duke of Kent made his second public appearance of June at Wimbledon on Monday, joining Lady Susan Hussey in the Royal Box for Day One of the 2026 Championships. At 90, Prince Edward is now the oldest living member of the British Royal Family, following the recent death of his wife Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, at age 92. Royal Central reported that the pair were among the most closely watched attendees at the All England Club.
The opening day drew a celebrity crowd — Ronan Keating, Maura Higgins, Tess Daly, Mary Berry, AJ Odudu, and Amanda Holden were all spotted in the hospitality suites. An estimated 42,000 fans filled the grounds, keeping the summer mood buoyant even after Emma Raducanu officially withdrew from the tournament due to injury the day before, according to Head Topics.
Duke's Viral June Sets Stage for Wimbledon Return
The Duke of Kent had already grabbed headlines earlier in June. On June 13, he was filmed on the Buckingham Palace balcony pulling out his mobile phone to record the RAF flypast during Trooping the Colour. The clip racked up 15 million views on TikTok and X within 48 hours. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams called it "the PR win the Palace needed," noting that the image of a 90-year-old Duke filming "like any other grandfather" struck a chord with the public.
The Duke held the presidency of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for 52 years, from 1969 to 2021. He stepped down in favour of Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is now the AELTC's patron. His continued presence on Day One signals he has no intention of quietly retreating from public life, Express noted, describing his Wimbledon visits as something of a "valedictory tour" of his most cherished institutions.
Lady Susan Hussey's Presence Reignites 2022 Controversy
Lady Susan Hussey served as Queen Elizabeth II's Lady of the Bedchamber for decades. In November 2022, she resigned from her honorary palace role after repeatedly asking Black British activist Ngozi Fulani where she "really came from" at a palace reception. Hussey later apologized and met Fulani for a private reconciliation. But her prominent seat in the Royal Box on Monday quickly revived the controversy on social media, with a spike in discourse noted by mid-afternoon, according to Express.
Cultural critics speaking to analysts described her reappearance as "deeply polarizing." Reformist commentators argued her presence suggested the Palace had not fully learned from its race-related failures of 2022. Others pushed back, framing her as a "loyal servant" who had been unfairly treated. The divide in reaction underscored how little consensus exists around the palace's handling of the incident four years on.
Duchess of Kent's Quiet Legacy Shapes the Duke's Story
Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, died at age 92, making her the oldest living royal at the time of her death. She had voluntarily dropped her HRH title in 2002, choosing to be known simply as Mrs. Kent. She then spent more than 13 years teaching music at a primary school in Hull — a move that set her apart from virtually every other senior royal. Royal Central described her as a duchess who "eschewed royal pomp" entirely.
The Duke's family narrative took another turn earlier in June when his granddaughter, Lady Marina Windsor, married Nico Macauley in a private ceremony in Yorkshire. The wedding was described as a "blend of royal heritage and Northern simplicity." Together, these events — a bereavement, a wedding, and two high-profile public appearances — make June 2026 one of the most eventful months in recent Kent family history.
Wimbledon's Royal Glamour Endures Despite Off-Court Drama
Raducanu's withdrawal cast a shadow over the tennis itself. But the "royal-celebrity circus," as Head Topics put it, successfully kept public excitement high. The star-studded Royal Box and packed hospitality suites gave broadcasters and photographers plenty to work with on a day when the biggest British name in women's tennis was already out.
Wimbledon remains the centrepiece of the UK's summer social season. Financial analysts estimate the 2026 tournament will contribute over £200 million to the local economy, driven in large part by its "royal-glamour" association. The Duke of Kent — at 90, with five decades of Wimbledon attendance behind him — remains the living symbol of that long and intertwined relationship between the Royal Family and the All England Club.
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