Kate Middleton delighted tennis fans with a surprise stop at Wimbledon’s famous Queue on July 2, kicking off her annual visit in a way few spectators saw coming.
Before settling in to watch the action, the Princess of Wales surprised hopeful fans, greeting sports lovers who’d camped out overnight in hopes of scoring tickets before handing some of them passes to that day’s matches.
Kate — who’s served as patron of London’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016 — also met with the club’s Honorary Stewards, who volunteer each year to manage the iconic Queue.
Before lunch, she spent time with children from the Shine Camera Club — a photography program for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A post-cancer milestone
Kate’s outing marked a milestone amid her cancer journey. While the Princess of Wales has attended Wimbledon over the last two summers, her July 2 visit was her first appearance during the tournament’s early rounds since 2023, People reported.
After revealing in March 2024 that she’d been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, Kate dramatically scaled back her public schedule while undergoing treatment. She made just a handful of appearances that year, including a memorable visit to the Wimbledon men’s singles final where she received a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd.
She later announced in January 2025 that she was in remission and has since resumed a fuller slate of duties. Her return to Wimbledon’s opening week is the latest sign she’s gradually returning the full schedule of royal engagements she maintained before her diagnosis.
All eyes on Kate
Kate watched Britain’s Arthur Fery take on Finland’s Otto Virtanen on Court 18 before moving to Court 1, where Britain’s Katie Swan played against America’s Madison Keys.
The princess — who wore her hair in a high ponytail — was seen smiling and cheering while sitting next to retired Scottish tennis legend Andy Murray during the match.
Kate embraced high-low style with her look for the day, standing out in a vibrant blue $2,900 Gabriela Hearst pantsuit she paired with an affordable ribbed white top from H&M, $79 Ralph Lauren sunglasses and $232 lapis and moonstone earrings from Carousel Jewels, What Kate Wore reported.
A royal tradition with childhood roots
Few royal engagements are as closely linked to Kate as Wimbledon. The Princess of Wales has attended the tennis championships nearly every year since marrying Prince William in 2011. Over the years, she’s also made a tradition of presenting trophies to the women’s and men’s singles champions during finals weekend.
Kate has long been an avid tennis fan and has often spoken about growing up watching — and playing — the sport.
In 2023, Kate told British tennis star Emma Raducanu how as a girl, she’d waited in Wimbledon’s epic Queue at “the crack of dawn” for tickets alongside father Michael Middleton and sister Pippa Middleton, the Daily Mirror reported. “I used to do that. It meant so much to be able to get the ground passes and be part of the championships,” Kate recalled.
In the 2017 BBC documentary Sue Barker: Our Wimbledon, Kate called the annual event “such a quintessential part of the English summer” that “really inspires youngsters,” adding, “It inspired me when I was younger to get involved in the game. It hasn’t changed either, I think that’s what’s so wonderful.”
Sharing the day
Kate shared highlights from her Wimbledon visit on the official Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account.
Alongside a carousel of photos including some from her stop at the famous Queue — where she even posed for selfies with some fans — she wrote, “Returning to Wimbledon and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and stopping off to visit the dedicated spectators hoping for a chance to attend today’s matches!”
The Princess of Wales shared a video from her visit, too, captioning it, “Anyone for tennis? Stopping by the famous Wimbledon Queue and enjoying some fantastic tennis! A wonderful day celebrating the people who make The Championships so special.”
Kate also highlighted her visit with the Shine Camera Club, writing alongside a clip with the children, “A pleasure to spend time with you at Wimbledon after your time capturing moments around the grounds. @shinecameraclub teaches young people the art of analogue photography, opening up new ways to see and tell stories.”
