Did Kate Middleton Break Wimbledon Rule With Hat? Breaking Down the Dress Code

Hats off to Kate Middleton for her Wimbledon fashion.

However, the Princess of Wales was technically supposed to be hats off while sitting in the Royal Box July 12 for the tennis championship’s gentlemen’s finals match between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

Indeed, attendees seated in the invite-only Royal Box are asked to follow a dress protocol, which advises that dress should be “smart,” inclusive of suits and jackets with a tie, per the tournament’s website. Plus, the dress code stipulates that “ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them.”

As such, Kate—who holds the title as Patron of The Championships Wimbledon—broke from the requested dress protocol when she briefly wore a brown sunhat while seated in the front row alongside her husband Prince William and their kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

However, the annual tennis tournament tends to relax its no-hats protocol when the heat rises and Royal Box attendees are in direct sunlight. After all, the All England Lawn Tennis Club—where the tournament is held—handed out fedoras with green bands for guests to find relief from the sun during both the ladies and gentlemen’s finals on July 11 and July 12, respectively, according to People.