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Kate Middleton is a huge tennis fan. The Princess of Wales is the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), but even before she took over the patronage from Queen Elizabeth in 2016, she was a regular court-side at tournaments. Plus, she’s not just a fan of watching tennis—Kate has been known to pick up a racket herself.
Historically, princess can be counted on to make an appearance every year at Wimbledon. Since marrying Prince William in 2011, she’s only missed Wimbledon once: in 2013, when she was pregnant with Prince George. (She also did not go in 2020, but no one went that year—the tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.) However, this year, due to her ongoing cancer treatment, her appearance isn’t guaranteed. In a personal message released last month, Kate wrote, she hopes “to join a few public engagements over the summer,” but is “not out of the woods yet.” Wimbledon organizers are hopeful the Princess of Wales be able to present the championship trophies, but said “her health and recovery is the priority.”
Kate often appears with Prince William, but she’s also attended alongside her father, Michael Middleton, sister Pippa, and her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle. In fact, the first-ever joint appearance the then-Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 made together was at Wimbledon.
Here, scroll through Kate Middleton’s best Wimbledon moments—and see her Wimbledon style throughout the years.
July 16, 2023
For the men’s finals, Kate brought her kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte. She wore a bright green Roland Mouret dress.
Later in the match, she and Charlotte both donned sunglasses.
For the women’s singles finals, Kate wore a bright green Self-Portrait dress.
She sat in the royal box next to none other than Billie Jean King.
Ahead of the match, the Princess of Wales met with All England Lawn Tennis Club staff.
She later presented the Wimbledon women’s final trophy to Markéta Vondroušová.
Kate attended her first Wimbeldon match of the year, wearing a mint green Balmain blazer with a pleated white skirt and matching pumps.
The Princess of Wales sat in the royal box, where she reunited with tennis champ Roger Federer weeks after joining up on the court to learn more about ball person training.
Kate, who is a massive Wimbeldon fan, cheered on the players from the royal box.
Ahead of the 2023 Wimbledon tournament, the Princess of Wales joined Wimbledon champion Roger Federer to play tennis on No. 3 court, and to take part in ball person training.
It was not her typical Wimbledon appearance, but definitely a memorable one—and a moment that proved Kate is the sportiest member of the royal family.
Read more: Photos of the royal family playing tennis
Kate made her final Wimbledon appearance of 2022 at the men’s singles finals, wearing another polka dot Alessandra Rich dress. She’s been very into polka dots as a summer style.
Kate was joined by Prince William and their son Prince George, making his royal debut at Wimbledon. The Cambridges sat in the royal box to watch Novak Djokovic defeat Nick Kyrgios in four sets.
In her role as royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Kate presented the trophies at the end of the match.
Kate glowed in a yellow Roksana dress to attend the women’s singles championship.
As ever, she seemed delighted to be watching tennis from the royal box. This was also her third time wearing a yellow dress to Wimbledon—Kate knows what works for her.
She presented the trophies after the match. Here, she hands the winner’s trophy to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who defeated Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in three sets.
Kate’s first appearance at Wimbledon 2022 was in an elegant blue and white polka-dot maxi dress by Alessandra Rich, channeling the style of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
While the Cambridges took in the action from the royal box, they also went to a side court to cheer on Cameron Norrie, a British player, in his quarterfinal match. Prince William was even caught swearing on camera as they cheered Norrie on.
Kate’s third and final appearance at Wimbledon 2021 was for the men’s singles championship. The Duchess of Cambridge dressed up in a pastel pink, belted Beulah London dress, and wore a matching pink floral mask.
She was joined by her dad, Michael Middleton, for the day of tennis. Father and daughter both rocked their sunglasses.
In 2021, the Duke of Kent stepped down from his role as President of the AELTC, a position he has held for more than 50 years. The Queen’s cousin presented the trophies for the final time. Kate will likely take over the trophy presentations in following years.
Kate attended the women’s singles finals, where her Kelly green Emilia Wickstead dress coordinated with Wimbledon’s grass courts.
Kate was joined in the royal box by Prince William and women’s tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. (Billie Jean King often sits in the royal box when she attends Wimbledon.)
Kate presented the winner’s trophy to Australian Ashleigh Barty, who defeated Karolina Pliskova.
After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wimbledon made its grand return in 2021. The Duchess of Cambridge showed up early in the tournament—day five—for a working visit. She wore a mask throughout the grounds for COVID safety.
She joined chef Adam Fargin in the kitchens at the All England Tennis Club to help prepare strawberries for Wimbledon’s famous strawberry desserts.
It wasn’t all work, however—Kate, of course, took in some tennis from the royal box at Centre Court. She wore a navy polka-dotted midi skirt by Alessandra Rich
