Princess of Wales wears black blazer to Women’s Rugby World Cup in tribute to Duchess of Kent
Kate attends England’s pool-stage win at Brighton as royal family members observe mourning
The Princess of Wales attended England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup pool match in black on Saturday, wearing a tailored Alexander McQueen blazer as a mark of mourning following the death of the Duchess of Kent.
Catherine, 43, watched the Red Roses’ 47-7 victory over Australia at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium in her capacity as patron of the Rugby Football Union and later visited the England locker room to congratulate the players. Buckingham Palace announced the Duchess of Kent’s death last Friday at age 92; members of the royal family have since been observing mourning.
The princess wore a black Alexander McQueen blazer and paired it with dark trousers and a silk blouse. Reports listed the outfit’s designer pieces and accessories, which royal aides have said were chosen with respect for the late duchess. The Prince of Wales was attending a separate tie, watching Wales play Fiji at Sandy Park in Exeter, and also dressed in black.
In a joint statement signed "W & C," the Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to the Duchess of Kent and extended condolences to her family, saying: "Our thoughts today are with The Duke of Kent and his family, particularly George, Helen and Nicholas. The Duchess worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family." A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex said Prince Harry had offered his condolences privately.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, meanwhile, attended the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on Saturday, where aides said the King wore a black blazer and the Queen wore a black armband as signs of respect.
England entered the match top of Pool B after earlier commanding wins, including a 69-7 victory over the United States and a 92-3 win against Samoa, and remain among the tournament favourites alongside holders New Zealand and Canada. Saturday’s result concluded the pool stage for England and kept them well-placed for the knockout rounds.
The Princess of Wales took on the RFU patronage in 2022, succeeding her brother-in-law the Duke of Sussex. She has been a prominent royal supporter of sport, holding several sporting patronages and frequently attending major events on the domestic calendar.
On social media in recent weeks the royal couple posted messages supporting home nations competing in the tournament. The Prince of Wales posted in Welsh and English to wish Wales luck, and the Princess of Wales wrote that she looked forward to "cheering you on and seeing the team rise to the challenge on home soil."
The Royals resumed public duties this week after their summer break. On Thursday the couple visited the Natural History Museum in London, where they met children participating in the museum’s learning programmes and were seen sheltering from a sudden downpour while escorting pupils indoors. Palace aides said the visit formed part of routine engagements following their traditional summer recess.
The Duchess of Kent, who was the oldest living member of the royal family at the time of her death, is survived by the Duke of Kent and their three children. The palace said she died at Kensington Palace and was surrounded by family. Tributes have been issued across public and private channels since the announcement of her passing.