Lady Gabriella Kingston made a rare public appearance in royal box at Wimbledon on Monday but did not sit alongside Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson who were also present.
The 43-year-old writer, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, braved the sweltering heat to make the unexpected trip.
The royal, whose maiden name is Windsor, was sat next to philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert Denning, who is on the board of trustees at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Gabriella wore a frock patterned with a lilac flower motif and a white collar which she accessorised with a low hanging gold necklace and a pair a sunglasses.
Lady Gabriella Kingston attended Wimbledon but did not sit with Princess Beatrice
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She appeared to be in good spirits alongside Denning as they laughed while watching the tennis.
However, the 43-year-old was evidently feeling the strain of the punishing 33C weather as she utilised a miniature fan to keep cool.
Also seated in the royal box but some distance from Gabriella was Princess Beatrice and her mother, Sarah Ferguson.
Fergie’s presence also represented a significant addition as she last attended the Championships 24 years ago.
Lady Gabriella attended the event alongside philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert Denning
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The mother of Beatrice and Princess Eugenie was a Wimbledon regular during the 1980s and 1990s, often appearing alongside the late Princess Diana.
They were joined in the Royal Box by an array of notable figures, including David Beckham, former England boss Gareth Southgate, actor Eddie Redmayne, and writer Richard Osman.
Singer Ronan Keating and Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs were also among the distinguished guests on opening day.
Lady Gabriella was last seen among royals as she joined the Princess of Wales's annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey last year.
Gabriella shared the royal box with Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson but did not sit with them
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The event was also attended by her parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and her brother, Lord Frederick Windsor and his family.
Gabbriella walked alongside Princess Kate’s mother and sister, Carole and Pippa Middleton, during the festivities.
Her reappearance followed a significant absence that year, with her last engagement being at Royal Ascot months earlier.
Last year proved to be a very difficult time for Gabriella with tragic death of her husband, Thomas Kingston, after he took his own life in February.
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The rarely seen royal was last seen at the Princess of Wales's annual Christmas carol last year
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Thomas and Lady Gabriella Kingston were married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in May 2019, with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh among the guests.
The couple had dated for several years before their wedding at the historic chapel.
Elsewhere at Wimbledon, Dara Huang revealed she was attending on the same day as Princess Beatrice, the stepmother to her son, Wolfie.
The ex-partner of Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took to Instagram on Monday, asking her followers for advice on an outfit to wear to the world-famous grass tennis court.