Duchess of Cambridge Self-isolating After COVID-19 Contact

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is shown around the Wimbledon Museum during her official visit on day five of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, Britain July 2, 2021. John Walton/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is shown around the Wimbledon Museum during her official visit on day five of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, Britain July 2, 2021. John Walton/Pool via REUTERS
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Duchess of Cambridge Self-isolating After COVID-19 Contact

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is shown around the Wimbledon Museum during her official visit on day five of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, Britain July 2, 2021. John Walton/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is shown around the Wimbledon Museum during her official visit on day five of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, London, Britain July 2, 2021. John Walton/Pool via REUTERS

British royal Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, is self-isolating and has cancelled her engagements after someone she came into contact with subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

"Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19," a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said.

"Her Royal Highness is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home."

The Duchess of Cambridge put in some work in the kitchens during a visit to Wimbledon on Day 5.

The duchess helped prepare strawberry desserts in one of the kitchens at the All England Club which has been used to distribute hot meals as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

She also visited one of the outside courts to watch Jamie Murray of Britain play a doubles match.

The duchess is a patron of the All England Club and has been a regular visitor to the royal box on Centre Court, often alongside her husband, Prince William.



‘CEO of Supercute’: Hello Kitty Turns 50

In this picture taken on October 19, 2024, Helen, founder of the “Hello Kitty SoCal Babes” fan club, poses with her collection inside her "she-shed" in Riverside County, California. (AFP)
In this picture taken on October 19, 2024, Helen, founder of the “Hello Kitty SoCal Babes” fan club, poses with her collection inside her "she-shed" in Riverside County, California. (AFP)
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‘CEO of Supercute’: Hello Kitty Turns 50

In this picture taken on October 19, 2024, Helen, founder of the “Hello Kitty SoCal Babes” fan club, poses with her collection inside her "she-shed" in Riverside County, California. (AFP)
In this picture taken on October 19, 2024, Helen, founder of the “Hello Kitty SoCal Babes” fan club, poses with her collection inside her "she-shed" in Riverside County, California. (AFP)

Hello Kitty, the cute, enigmatic character that adorns everything from handbags to rice cookers, turns 50 on Friday -- and is still making millions for her Japanese creators.

The simple design of the character -- who is not a cat, but a little girl from London according to Sanrio, the company behind Kitty -- has mileage as a money-spinner for years to come, experts say.

One woman in the US state of California has amassed so much Hello Kitty merchandise that her husband built her a pink so-called "she-shed" to keep it in.

Stuffed inside are thousands of toys and other items featuring Kitty and her eye-catching red bow, including rows of sunglasses, a swivel chair and novelty gumball dispensers.

"People my age, you know, we are told many times, 'Hello Kitty is for little kids,' and I laugh at that," said Helen from Riverside County, conceding she is "50-plus".

Helen, who drives a Hello Kitty-decorated SUV and runs the local fan club "Hello Kitty SoCal Babes", has been "obsessed" with the character since its 1970s US debut.

Her vast collection of Hello Kitty plushies "make me feel warm", she said, describing spending hours among the soft toys, many of them rare, on a regular basis.

"Something in my inner child gets healed," she said.

Hello Kitty started life as an illustration on a vinyl coin purse.

It has since appeared on tens of thousands of products -- official and unofficial -- including tie-ups with Adidas, Balenciaga and other top brands.

The phenomenon shows no sign of slowing, with a Warner Bros movie in the pipeline and a new Hello Kitty theme park due to open next year on China's tropical Hainan island.

Sanrio's share price has soared more than seven-fold, pushing its market cap over one trillion yen ($6.8 billion), since young CEO Tomokuni Tsuji took over from his grandfather in 2020.

- 'Pure product' -

"We'd be foolishly cynical to say that we don't need these soft, fluffy, pink things," Christine R. Yano of the University of Hawaii told AFP.

In fact, "given the fraught nature of our contemporary lives, perhaps we need it now more than ever", said Yano, author of the book "Pink Globalization" about Hello Kitty.

"This is not a phenomenon that has died or is going to die, at least soon," she added.

Unlike other Japanese cultural exports such as Pokemon or Dragon Ball, there is minimal narrative around the character, whose full name is Kitty White.

She has a twin sister Mimmy, a boyfriend called Dear Daniel, and a pet cat of her own, Sanrio says. She loves her mother's apple pie and dreams of becoming a pianist or poet.

The rest is left to fans' imaginations -- just like the "abstract, bare design that can speak with a kind of simplicity and elegance to more people", Yano said.

"I call her a pure product," the researcher added.

Some feminists say Hello Kitty's lack of a mouth is a symbol of disempowerment, but Yuko Akiyama, Sanrio's head of global brand management, said it allows the character to "reflect" different emotions.

"So if they're sad, Hello Kitty will comfort you. If you are happy, Hello Kitty is there to share the happiness with you," Akiyama said.

- Kawaii -

Famous Hello Kitty fans include Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry, and her appeal extends to royalty: Britain's King Charles wished her a happy birthday this year.

On Hello Kitty's TikTok account -- whose bio is "CEO of supercute" -- sardonic memes and footage from "Hello Kitty Day" at US baseball games delight 3.5 million followers.

Hello Kitty is the epitome of Japan's "kawaii", or cute, soft power, and she is the mascot of a campaign promoting tourist etiquette in Tokyo.

Posters celebrating the 50th anniversary are on display at Sanrio Puroland theme park, where businesswoman Kim Lu from Manila had brought her four-year-old niece during their holiday.

"This really is our priority here in Tokyo," she said.

"To be honest, we really don't know" the reason for Hello Kitty's ineffable success, said Lu, 36.

"I think it's the kawaii charm."

Sanrio owns the copyright to hundreds of other popular characters, and Hello Kitty now accounts for 30 percent of profits, down from 75 percent a decade ago.

But Kitty is still a favorite of 23-year-old Rio Ueno, who took an overnight bus from Japan's northern Niigata region to visit the park with a friend.

"I've had Kitty goods around me since I was a small child," said Ueno, dressed in a fluffy Hello Kitty sweater, sporting a Kitty bag, and clutching a Kitty doll.

"She is someone who is always close to me, and I want it to stay that way."