Novak Djokovic has disclosed that Queen Camilla made a surprising comment during a private conversation at Wimbledon last year, though he has chosen to keep the details confidential. The tennis star met the Queen before his quarter-final match against Flavio Cobolli at the All England Club in 2025, and the interaction left a lasting impression.
Djokovic's Surprise at Queen's Question
Speaking after his four-set victory on Centre Court, Djokovic admitted he was caught off guard by the Queen's remark. "I prefer not sharing that. It's private," Djokovic said when asked about the exchange. "We had a nice exchange. I was actually surprised with her comment and a question that she asked. It was non-tennis related. She was very pleasant. Very, very pleasant."
The Serbian star, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, emphasised the honour of meeting royalty. "Of course, it's a great honour and privilege for me to be able to shake hands with the Queen of England. I've had that honour, as well, 2010 with the late Queen Elizabeth," he added.
Camilla's Return to Wimbledon
Queen Camilla made her return to the All England Club earlier this week as Djokovic prepared for his semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner. During their encounter, Camilla was overheard saying: "Oh what a treat, how nice to see you. It's lovely to see you." She also mentioned having her "fingers crossed" for him, to which Djokovic replied: "It will be my great honour. I appreciate it."
Connection with Princess Catherine
Djokovic's interaction with Camilla came a year after he shared a heartfelt moment with Princess Catherine following the 2024 Wimbledon final. The Princess of Wales, who presented him with his runner-up award, had made a rare public appearance after revealing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. She later entered remission in January 2025. "Yes, it was of course a privilege to be in her presence again," Djokovic said. "I've said to her that it is very nice to see her in good health. She seems to be in good health."
He added: "That's obviously very positive news for everyone in this country but also for Wimbledon, for Championships to have Her Royal Highness here, of course with her family members. It's amazing. It's incredible support they've been giving over the years to this tournament."
Djokovic's Quest for Records
Djokovic is aiming to match Roger Federer's eight Wimbledon titles, which would also hand him an outright record 25th Grand Slam triumph. The 39-year-old, whose last success at SW19 came in 2022, faces defending champion Sinner in the semi-finals.
