Since Princess Catherine shared her cancer diagnosis, updates have been scarce. Although the royal family has not issued official statements about her health condition, additional information has emerged about the recovery process of the Princess of Wales. Last week, the news about her second public appearance since her diagnosis resonated deeply with fans of the royal family. The princess’s appearance at Wimbledon has a massive dollar value attached; new data reveals that the decision-making for her Wimbledon getup would have to consider the global attention it would draw.

Zena, arguably one of the biggest stars now and the face of Louis Vuitton and Bulgari, has just been beaten by a 42-year-old royal. Catherine’s brief foray back into the spotlight at the men’s finals at Wimbledon saw her wearing Sophia Cecilia’s lilac mini dress. Reports indicate that Launch Metrics calculated the media impact value for various brands and sponsors connected with Wimbledon. On an individual level, Catherine’s choice was worth $7.1 million in media impact value for the British brand, surpassing Zendaya’s $5.3 million for Ralph Lauren and even the sponsors of the entire tournament, including Rolex ($5.9 million), Adidas ($6.2 million), and Nike ($4.4 million).

This reflects just how much bigger Catherine has gotten this year on an international level. Even before the events of this year, Catherine enjoyed a hugely influential position, not only style-wise but as a public figure too. What the princess wears has, for 13 years, been more reported on and excitedly covered by various blogs and social media accounts than some minor wars. After all, the Princess of Wales has global clout like never before, despite her diagnosis and temporary retreat from public life this year.

This brings us to a highly controversial question: Is the princess now as influential as Diana, Princess of Wales, in the style icon stakes? Recent years have seen a sprouting of accounts on social media and even books devoted to celebrating the late princess’s enduring fashion. For Diana, clothes were a means of transmitting and communicating her inner world. For her daughter-in-law, it’s somewhat different. When Catherine picks a demure dress for an outing, she’s not sending coded messages about her personal emotional state but understands the power of what she wears.

Her selection of Wimbledon look brands is a statement in itself. Consider what she picks: the princess paired the frock with golden earrings from a London-based sustainable jewelry brand, supporting environmentalism and British businesses. In a stunning and emotional moment, the princess made a radiant appearance on the palace balcony at the Trooping the Colour ceremony, marking her first public engagement since her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Her last public sighting was during the annual Christmas Day church service in Sandringham.

However, shortly after watching the pageantry, Prince Louis appeared to be bored by the display at Horse Guards Parade and was spotted playing with a blind cord. It seems Catherine had her hands full as Louis got distracted during the ceremony on the balcony, and she watched his every move. Louis was then seen yawning while standing and watching the parade from a window at the Duke of Wellington’s former office. The little prince lifted his head back, yawned, and danced during the show.

This ceremony holds particular significance as it serves as a beacon of hope and continuity. Involving the younger generation in such a prominent role underscores the royal family’s commitment to the future and the enduring nature of the monarchy. It’s a reminder that despite the challenges and changes, the royal lineage remains steadfast.