Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup match on Saturday wearing black mourning colours as a tribute to the Duchess of Kent, who died last week at the age of 92.
The princess, in her role as patron of the Rugby Football Union, watched England’s Red Roses beat Australia 47-7 at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium and later visited the team in the locker room to congratulate the players. She wore a black Alexander McQueen blazer priced at £1,500, paired with a Knatchbull Cascade Ruffle silk blouse (£560), black high-waisted trousers and a Chanel Mini Classic handbag reported at £4,000. She accessorised with Cartier 18K Trinity earrings valued at £2,500.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the death of the Duchess of Kent last Friday. In a statement signed "W & C," the Prince and Princess of Wales said 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 Prince Harry said he had offered his condolences to the Kent family privately.
Prince William attended a separate fixture earlier in the day, watching Wales’ match against Fiji at Sandy Park in Exeter, where he was reported to be wearing a black suit and tie. King Charles III and Queen Camilla also marked the duchess’s death by attending the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering in Scotland; the king wore a black blazer and tie while the queen wore a black armband.
Saturday’s match at Brighton formed the final round of the group stage. England entered the fixture at the top of Pool B after emphatic wins earlier in the tournament, including a 69-7 victory over the United States and a 92-3 win against Samoa. England, ranked number one in the world, are among the favourites for the tournament alongside holders New Zealand and Canada.
Catherine, 43, who has served as RFU patron since 2022 following the transfer of the patronage from Prince Harry, has become a frequent presence at rugby events. She is known for her interest in sport — the princess has been a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and is a regular visitor to Wimbledon — and has taken part in a range of athletic activities at public engagements.
On Saturday the princess wore her hair in a half ponytail after debuting lighter "bronde" highlights earlier in the week. She and William returned to public duties this month after their summer break; the couple visited the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday, where they joined education activities and met children taking part in the museum’s learning programmes.
The Duchess of Kent died at Kensington Palace on Thursday night, surrounded by family, Buckingham Palace said. She is survived by the Duke of Kent and their three children. The royal household and public figures have paid tribute in recent days, and members of the royal family have adjusted engagements as they recorded their condolences.
England’s next fixtures will determine their standing as the tournament proceeds to the knockout stages. The Women’s Rugby World Cup is being played on home soil in England, and the tournament’s remaining schedule will see top teams from the pool stages advance to the later rounds.
At the Brighton match, spectators and officials observed a sombre tone among tributes from the royal family while supporters and players concentrated on the sporting competition. The princess’s appearance combined her public role as patron with a personal mark of respect following the duchess’s death.
Reporting from the stadium and royal engagements underlined the couple’s simultaneous public commitments on Saturday: the Princess of Wales in Brighton supporting the Red Roses and the Prince of Wales attending a separate international fixture in Exeter, both carrying messages of condolence and remembrance for the late duchess.