Wimbledon is back, with all eyes on Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner as they return to defend their singles titles this year. But it’s not just the on-court action that’s piquing our interest: expect to see plenty of A-listers in the crowd, alongside royal visitors such as Kate Middleton (who is patron of the All England Tennis Club), too.
While there is no official dress code for guests, everyone is encouraged to dress smartly, particularly those lucky enough to frequent Centre Court or Court Number One (those in the Royal Box must wear a jacket and tie), which means the fashion stakes are high.
As for the undisputed master of Centre Court dressing? No one pulled it off quite like Princess Diana. An avid sports fan and a mainstay at the famed tennis tournament throughout the ’80s and ’90s, cheery summer prints, oversized ’80s belts, power shoulders, and retro shades comprised the key features of her Wimbledon looks. Her colorful courtside style was only matched in exuberance by her zealous applause and the enthusiastic facial expressions that she displayed at the height of match play.
Here, Vogue looks back at some of Princess Diana’s best Wimbledon spectator moments.
1981
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Princess Diana in a bright blue floral wrap coord and crisp white shirt as she stood to applaud John McEnroe when he defeated Björn Borg.
1994
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Princess Diana and Princess Michael of Kent joined a centre court standing ovation as Pete Sampras was crowned champion at the Wimbledon men’s finals.
1984
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Diana wore jolly stripes for the semi-final between Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl.
1986
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A cinched-waist sunny dress was the outfit of choice for the fourth round men’s singles match between Pat Cash and Mats Wilander.
1987
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Nail-biting moments at the Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert match.
1987
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The princess’s courtside dress that she wore to watch Ivan Lendl and Henri Leconte was not dissimilar to the polka-dot look that she debuted after she gave birth to Prince William.
1989
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Princess Diana applauds Boris Becker at the end of the men’s singles semi-final on the Centre Court.
1989
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Baby blue hues and statement earrings comprised Diana’s courtside look as she watched McEnroe beat Mats Wilander.
1990
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Power shoulders for the men’s singles finals between Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker.
1991
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Diana avidly looks on at the men’s final between Michael Stich and Boris Becker.
1991
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The princess pays tribute to on-court dressing in a white pleated tennis skirt and patterned purple shirt.
1994
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The princess stunned in a sharp black and white dress for the ladies’ singles final when Conchita Martínez defeated Martina Navratilova.
1995
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Statement gold and pearl earrings from Chanel were the perfect accessory for Diana’s pastel tailoring at the men’s final between Boris Becker and Pete Sampras in 1995.
1987
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The princess also rocked a statement pair of white aviator sunglasses at the 1987 championship.
1981
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In 1981, watching the ladies’ singles final with her sister, Sarah Spencer.
1993
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Diana in a powder pink skirt suit with gold buttons and coordinating jewelry at the mens’ final in 1993.
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Diana in a tailored black coat and a Chanel handbag attending the tournament in 1991.
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Alice Cary is the senior shopping writer at British Vogue. Fashion trends articles, curated shopping edits, and commerce franchises all fall within Alice’s remit, though she occasionally writes for the Jewellery and Arts & Lifestyle sections. Alice graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2019 with a BA in fashion journalism ... Read More