The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, broke royal tradition at Wimbledon on the fourth day of the tournament, choosing not to sit in the Royal Box. Instead, she watched a match on the outside courts alongside former player Tim Henman.
Greeting fans and handing out tickets
Kate greeted fans who had queued for hours hoping to secure tickets. Upon entering the grounds, she received applause and cheers as she walked past Henman Hill. The princess, who serves as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, joined stewards to distribute tickets to attendees who had gained entry after a long wait.
She told two tennis fans to “have a great time” as she handed them a ticket on Thursday morning. In the queue, she smiled, laughed, greeted visitors, and posed for pictures. Speaking to two excited children, she asked if they were big tennis fans, to which they smiled and nodded.
Engaging with volunteers and fans
One attendee congratulated the princess on her recent Three Peaks challenge. Kate also spoke with honorary stewards, who volunteer each year to manage the famous queue. Onlookers stopped to take pictures as Kate entered the grounds of the famous sports venue.
The princess is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and regularly attends Wimbledon. Last year, she presented the men’s trophy to world number one Jannik Sinner after watching the singles final on Centre Court with the Prince of Wales.
Health update and previous appearances
Kate was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and made her second public appearance following her diagnosis at the championships that year. She was greeted with cheers and applause as she and Princess Charlotte took their seats in the front row of the royal box at Centre Court. At the start of 2025, she confirmed she was in remission from the disease.
