The Princess of Wales marked her first visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital since December 2023 by touring plans for a new £100million children’s cancer centre, days after re-wearing a £2,790 dress from her 2019 Wimbledon appearance for the occasion.
The Princess of Wales returned to Evelina London Children’s Hospital for the first time since December 2023, in a visit that doubled as a highlight of the hospital’s £100million fundraising campaign for a new state-of-the-art children’s facility. Kate, who has served as the hospital’s patron since 2018, was welcomed by chief executive Gubby Ayida before spending time with children and their families on the Edward Ward and Galaxy Ward, hearing about their treatment and experiences. The visit marked her first appearance at Evelina since stepping back from public duties following her abdominal surgery and subsequent cancer diagnosis.
Plans for a New Children’s Hospital
During the visit, Kate was shown plans for a new children’s hospital building, expected to open in the early 2030s, which will expand specialist care for children across London and the South East. The development will include a Children’s Cancer Principal Treatment Centre, bringing together specialist cancer and blood and marrow transplant services in partnership with The Royal Marsden and St George’s Hospital. The project forms part of Evelina London Children’s Charity’s £100million fundraising campaign, which Kate’s visit helped bring further attention to.
A Familiar Dress for a Sweltering July
For the engagement, the Princess wore a white dress with contrasting black buttons and a fitted belt, made by Suzannah London, a brand favoured by several members of the royal family. Known as the “Flippy Wiggle Dress” and priced at £2,790, the design draws on the brand’s vintage archive, reinterpreting a late 1940s wiggle dress with what the label describes as “a fluid, gentle soft movement throughout the skirt, from the hips to the hemline.” The dress was not new to royal watchers, having previously been worn by Kate during her 2019 visit to Wimbledon. With one of the hottest Julys on record currently gripping the UK, the loose-fitting, light-coloured design offered a practical as well as stylish choice, its pale shade reflecting sunlight and its fabric allowing air to move freely against the skin.
From Evelina to SW19
The visit followed closely on from another public appearance the previous week, when Kate joined the famous Wimbledon Queue, meeting fans who had camped overnight for tickets before speaking with volunteer stewards and spending time with the Shine Camera Club, as well as watching some of the day’s play. As a keen tennis fan and Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Kate remains a familiar presence at the Championships each year. For that outing, she wore a blue blazer and matching trousers in a heatwave-friendly linen blend from Gabriela Hearst, paired with moonstone and lapis drop earrings from British brand Carousel Jewels.
