The Princess of Wales made an impromptu visit to Wimbledon on Saturday, July 11, 2026, ahead of the ladies' singles final between Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova. During her visit, she hinted that her youngest son, Prince Louis, aged eight, is keen to become a ball boy at the tournament.
Kate spoke with Jenna Fontanilla, an 18-year-old who works in Wimbledon's court services team. Fontanilla told reporters that the princess brought up the topic of ball boys and ball girls, saying Louis had been asking her about how to become one. "She told me about how Louis was asking her about how to become a ball boy, and we were talking about how much hard work it is to be on court and how we work alongside the ball kids, and it's just so lovely," Fontanilla said.
The princess, wearing a strawberry red belted top and pleated midi skirt, also met with Canadian tennis player Gabriela Dabrowski, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. Dabrowski said Kate told her she was "inspirational" for continuing to play tennis while undergoing treatment. "I guess someone told her, so she acknowledged that and just said it was amazing that I was still playing going through treatment, and she said it was very inspirational, which I feel the same likewise with her story as well," Dabrowski said. She added that Kate believes sport can "prove that your body is still strong."
Kate was accompanied by club chairwoman Deborah Jevans and Lawn Tennis Association president Roy Colabawalla at Centre Court. She is set to present the trophy to the winner of the ladies' singles final.
King Charles Meets Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Meanwhile, King Charles III met with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at Highgrove House on Friday afternoon. This was the first time the monarch had seen his grandchildren in over four years, since the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.
Buckingham Palace described the meeting as a "private family occasion." The reunion took place while Prince William was playing in a charity polo match in Windsor, and there are no plans for the brothers to meet during Harry's visit.
Royal expert Jennie Bond expressed concern that the reunion could strain the King's relationship with Prince William. "It's also tricky for Charles because he knows that a meeting with Harry and family would put a strain on his good relationship with William," Bond told the Mirror. "That's a difficult situation for any father, but deep down I'm sure he still loves his younger son, his darling boy as he always called him. And what grandfather wouldn't want to see his little grandchildren?"
Harry's rift with William is ongoing and shows no sign of abating. A Mirror poll of nearly 1,200 readers found that 100 percent believed the rift could begin to be healed.
Prince Harry's UK Visit Activities
Prince Harry's UK visit included several public engagements. On Friday, he participated in a goat yoga session at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire as part of Scotty's Summer Festival. He lay on his back as goats trampled over him, and a goat stepped on his crotch, prompting him to shout "ow" and cover the area with his hands, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
Harry also appeared on rugby legend Joe Marler's podcast, which will be released on Monday. In a trailer, he jokes about his long name as Marler and co-host Jake Bhardwaj chant "duke, duke, duke."
During an Invictus Games event in Birmingham, Harry spoke with TV presenter Alison Hammond, telling her, "I love my family." He said his children loved her work on the Great British Bake Off.
The Sussexes are expected to spend the weekend at Althorp House with the Spencer family, where they will visit the grave of Harry's mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Princess of Wales Praised as 'People's Princess'
Fontanilla praised Kate's genuine and easygoing nature. "She's so genuine. It felt so easy. I thought I was going to be really nervous, but she made it so easy. The conversation was very natural," Fontanilla said. She added, "She's a people's princess, everyone says she's one of the people, and I love it."
Kate's visit to Wimbledon included selling tickets to fans in the queue during the first week of the tournament, a move that charmed the public.
The princess's appearance at Wimbledon and her interactions with players and staff highlight her ongoing support for tennis and her role as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
