The Princess of Wales broke with royal tradition at Wimbledon on Thursday, July 2, 2026, as she chose not to sit in the Royal Box on the fourth day of the tournament. Instead, Kate Middleton watched a match on the outside courts alongside former British tennis player Tim Henman.
Greeting Fans and Handing Out Tickets
Kate greeted fans who had queued for hours in hopes of securing a ticket. Upon entering the grounds, she received a round of applause and cheers as she walked past Henman Hill. The princess, who serves as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), then joined stewards to help distribute tickets to lucky attendees who had gained entry after a long wait.
Kate told two tennis fans to ‘have a great time’ as she handed them a ticket on Thursday morning. In the queue, she was seen smiling and laughing while greeting visitors and posing for pictures. Speaking to two excited children, she asked if they were big tennis fans, to which they smiled and nodded. One attendee congratulated the princess on her recent Three Peaks challenge.
Engaging with Stewards and Onlookers
Kate also spoke with honorary stewards, who volunteer each year to manage the infamous Wimbledon queue. Onlookers stopped to take pictures as the princess entered the grounds of the famous sports venue. The princess is patron of the 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. The princess 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.
