Why Prince William is not at Wimbledon with Princess Kate

In her second official public appearance at Wimbledon since announcing that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventive treatment, Princess Kate arrived to a standing ovation from a delighted and emotional crowd.

The Princess of Wales attended the men's final with her daughter Princess Charlotte and her sister Pippa Middleton Matthews. Her husband, Prince William, was not by his wife's side and was conspicuously absent from the iconic tennis tournament, leaving many royal fans and spectators to wonder why Prince William was not at Wimbledon this year.

After all, the Prince was busy fulfilling his obligations as president of the Football Association, and the royal family traveled to Germany the same day, July 14, to attend the Euro 2024 championship match between England and Spain.

Middleton's attendance at this year's Wimbledon Championships was something of a question mark - Kensington Palace did not confirm the royal's attendance until Saturday, July 13. Earlier reports had suggested that Prince William would ultimately decide whether it was appropriate and safe for his wife to make a public appearance.

"Prince William is in control of this household and he will decide if the princess is well enough to do this. There is no way he would interfere with Kate in a way that she could not handle."

Burrell further stated that the Crown Princess certainly knows that "the whole world wants to see her," but that the decision to go out in public or not will be made by Prince William, who is "fiercely protective" and will "decide if she is fit enough."

Apparently, Prince William ultimately decided that it was safe enough for his wife to attend in person.

In April, former BBC royal correspondent Jenny Bond told The Sun that "William has never been more protective of his wife and children than he is now," the result of Middleton's cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

"He takes special care to prioritize her health and the welfare of his young family, even amid calls for more public appearances," Bond told the magazine at the time.

"William has a stubborn streak, and when it comes to his family and their privacy, he could not be more stubborn."

To mark her surprise return to Wimbledon, Middleton did indeed dress for the occasion in a regal-looking purple Safiya dress with a ruched bodice and softly flared skirt. The purple dress was no doubt a tribute to her beloved Wimbledon tournament. Not only is purple a historically regal color adorned by centuries of monarchs, but it is also closely associated with Wimbledon and its iconic purple and green logo.

Prince William was not present with his wife, but Princess Charlotte and Pippa Middleton Matthews appeared with the Princess of Wales during the tournament. When Middleton received a standing ovation from the crowd, her daughter Princess Charlotte looked up at her mother proudly.