Speculation brews over Princess Kate showing up at Wimbledon

One of the Princess of Wales’ favourite events is about to start and organisers are “hopeful” that she will be well enough to attend.

The trouble with writing about Wimbledon is the temptation it presents to really descend into some spectacularly cheap puns. Game, set and match. Scoring points. Making a racket.

But I’ll persist because Monday marks the beginning of this year’s annual festival of tennis and with its start comes a certain thrilling prospect. Whisper it quietly. Could the famed tournament’s patron, a certain princess, be about to reappear?

Every year since 2011, bar one, Kate, the Princess of Wales has made the arduous trek from Kensington Palace to shockingly south of the river to take her place in the famous wicker chairs of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’s Royal Box. (And the only reason HRH missed 2013 was because no one wanted to see her waters break on centre court.)

In 2016, Kate’s love affair with Wimbledon was made official when, after 64 years, Her (late) Majesty handed over duties as patron, thus freeing up the indomitable sovereign to spend more time with the Racing Post.

What this all boils down to is that the Princess of Wales has long been part of the Wimbledon furniture, if you will, as synonymous with the event as strawberries and cream and stockbrokers turning up in their tan suits.

So, will she? Won’t she? Will she? Won’t she? Will she? Won’t she? With 2024’s Wimbledon kicking off, is the Princess about to break cover and appear?

he Duchess of Cambridge at the Men's trophy ceremony after the Singles Final at Wimbledon in 2021. Picture: Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

One word has sparked optimism on this front.

It comes via Debbie Jevans, chairman of the All England Club, has said that the club is “hopeful” that she will be up to making it.

“We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we’ll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible,” Jevans has told the Telegraph. “We’re staying flexible. When we hear we’ll then think about what’s the right thing to do.”

Meanwhile, the Times has reported that “Kensington Palace has not ruled out the possibility of the Princess of Wales presenting the trophies at Wimbledon, as planned, as she continues to undergo cancer treatment.”

This echoes the line coming out of the palace last month when the Telegraph said that, according to palace sources, the Princess’s attendance at the iconic sporting event “remains a possibility”.

Kate Middleton revealed in March she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

It was only a few weeks ago that Kate released a highly personal statement about her treatment for cancer, saying she had “good days and bad days” as she underwent chemotherapy. The following day, the Princess took part in the Trooping the Colour as an entire nation let out a long, slow exhale of relief that she was well enough to hat up.

Trooping was to be but a brief reprieve from the monotony of looking at pictures of the royal menfolk doing good works and demonstrating the unremitting aesthetic tedium of a dark charcoal suit. At least at Royal Ascot we got Prince William in a nicely ridiculous top hat at Garter Day in a nicely ridiculously plumed velvet cap. (Accessories maketh the man?)

Last week, when a roster of grandees and important sorts genteelly processed their way into the Buckingham Palace ballroom for the Japanese State Banquet, Kate was, sadly, not among their number.

However, there are a number of factors supporting the idea that we might be about to see Kate in public again and soon.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the Royal Box during the Andy Murray vs. David Ferrer quarterfinal match in 2012. Picture: Visionhaus/Ben Radford/Corbis via Getty Images

Firstly, the 42-year-old is a massive racquet-head, which is what I’m assuming mad tennis fans are called. (Oh they’re not? Shame.) Such is her passion for the game, that she spent her last Christmas Day before formally joining the royal family, in 2010, on the court.

Secondly, Andy Murray. The British sporting great is reportedly on the cusp of retirement, meaning this might be his last time appearing at the All England club. It would make sense for Kate to want to be there for what might be the former singles winner’s final go-round.

Third, let’s consider the Prince George and Princess Charlotte element. Last year saw both siblings attend, for the very first time with both of their parents, but given it’s their mother who is associated with the event, might their going depend on her going too? (They are a sporty family, with George reportedly a keen footballer and Charlotte a skilful cricketer.)

Next, there is more than one chance for her here. Unlike other events, traditionally, the Princess pops up on a number of occasions, usually earlier on in the tournament and then later for the finals to do her bit as patron.

Lastly, there is the look of the thing. The Princess of Wales presenting the finals trophies is one of those stalwart, quintessential images of the year, and her doing so this year would be a real source of national pep and pride.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios receives the runner-up's trophy from the Duchess of Cambridge. Picture: Sebastien Bozon/AFP

(Consider that this very scene, of the Princess handing over a bit of gold plate to the winners, was deemed of such political and PR value that Russian players were banned in 2022 to prevent any chance that Vladimir Putin got the boon of seeing one of his countrymen or women with Kate.)

Whatever happens over the next two weeks, if the Princess is feeling well enough to go, it will likely all be a bit last-minute given that the palace only confirmed Kate’s Trooping the Colour attendance less than 24 hours out.

With all this “possibility” buzzing about the place, here’s hoping that someone has freshly ironed an Emilia Wickstead number or two.

Daniela Elser is a writer, editor and a royal commentator with more than 15 years’ experience working with a number of Australia’s leading media titles.

Originally published as Speculation brews over Princess Kate showing up at Wimbledon