Meghan Markle and Princess Kate have both broken this strict Wimbledon rule

Princess Kate and Meghan Markle are both big fans of Wimbledon but it seems they might not be aware of the clothing stipulations at the tournament.

By Catherine Meyer-Funnell, Royal Reporter based in London

Kate Middleton attends Wimbledon with George and Charlotte

Princess Kate and Meghan Markle are both royal fashion icons and have regularly attended Wimbledon in the past, but both have committed a big fashion no-no while there.

The pair were snapped in the Royal Box together in 2018 and 2019. However, Meghan has been attending the tournament in SW19 since before she even married Prince Harry.

She is close friends with legendary tennis player Serena Williams and would often travel to watch her play, while Kate too has always been keen on the sport.

The Princess of Wales is the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and has Roger Federer in her contacts, who has also given lucky Prince George some tennis lessons.

Both Kate and Meghan's sartorial choices in the Box have attracted comment, yet they may have upset some Wimbledon officials by wearing hats.

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Princess Kate and Meghan Markle watch Wimbledon

Princess Kate and Meghan Markle are both fans of Wimbledon (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle watches Wimbledon

Meghan wore her sunhat at Wimbledon back in 2016 (Image: Getty)

Guests in the Royal Box at Wimbledon are requested to dress "smart", but women are "asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them".

At the Ladies' Singles Final in 2018, Kate and Meghan attended together, and although Meghan held her white straw hat with a black ribbon in her hands, she never put it on while watching the game.

However, the Duchess did wear that exact hat back in 2016 as she watched Serena Williams play in London, on the same visit when she had her first date with Prince Harry.

In 2022 during scorching weather, Kate was spotted accessorising her yellow sundress with a large hat to protect her from the sun's rays.

Princess Kate wears sunhat at Wimbledon

Princess Kate wore the hat during particularly hot weather (Image: Getty)

When it is especially hot, hats featuring the tournament's green and purple colours are passed around to those in the Royal Box.

Kate rarely misses Wimbledon and there is much speculation that she will attend this year to prevent the winners' trophies.

The Princess has been out of the spotlight while she recovers from cancer, but she did manage to attend Trooping the Colour alongside the rest of the royals last month.

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