The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at Wimbledon for the men's singles final, accompanied by Princess Charlotte and Prince George. The royals reached the All England Club just after 3pm and began greeting a line-up of guests, including British wildcard Arthur Fery, who turned 24 today.
Royal Appearance at Centre Court
Later, they will take seats on Centre Court to watch reigning champion Jannik Sinner face number two seed Alexander Zverev. Wearing a green dress, Kate smiled as she entered the players' area behind Centre Court. Kensington Palace confirmed the attendance earlier, noting it would be Catherine's third appearance at the Championships this fortnight. As Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, she handed the trophy to winner Linda Noskova the previous day and had also visited during the second day of the tournament, chatting to fans in the queue and even selling tickets to spectators.
Prince Harry's Family Reunion
Meanwhile, Prince Harry was beaming with joy ahead of his trip to the King's Highgrove residence, where the monarch was reunited with his grandchildren after a family rift. Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, last saw their grandfather in person during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Friday's meeting with Charles and Camilla was a positive move. However, Harry's issues with his brother are ongoing and show no sign of abating, with the family reunion taking place during the same afternoon William was playing in a charity polo match at Windsor.
Details of the Highgrove Meeting
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's meeting with the King reportedly lasted little over an hour. Prince Harry had been in the UK since Monday, with his wife Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet flying into the UK days ago. They travelled to Gloucestershire on Friday, and it is believed that the family were full of smiles at Highgrove House. A source told the Daily Mail: "Harry turned up at Invictus with a massive smile plastered all over his face. Everybody was looking absolutely delighted. It wasn't just acting."
Royal Expert on Reunion Impact
Royal expert Jennie Bond fears the King's meeting with Prince Harry and his family may put an enormous strain on the Monarch'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," she 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 UK Engagements
Before travelling to Highgrove, Prince Harry spent the day promoting the Invictus Games in Birmingham. He met competitors and supporters before taking part in activities including wheelchair rugby and pickleball. He also visited Fisher House at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a home for military families. Reflecting on the visit, Harry told The Sun: "Places like Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Fisher House remind us that recovery is never something anyone does alone."
Kate's Wimbledon Interactions
During the ladies' singles final, Kate met Shirley Rodriguez Yugsi, 11, who performed the coin toss. Shirley said meeting the princess was "unbelievable", adding: "It was like a dream. I didn't think it was happening. It was amazing." Kate also spoke to Linda Noskova after her win and told Canadian tennis player Gabriela Dabrowski, who is undergoing cancer treatment, that she was "inspirational". Dabrowski said: "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."
Prince Louis and Ball Boy Aspirations
During her visit, Kate mentioned that her youngest child, eight-year-old Louis, had been asking about becoming a ball boy. Jenna Fontanilla, a court services worker, said: "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."
Andy Murray on Royal Presence
Retired tennis player Andy Murray said having the royals at Wimbledon is part of the tournament's tradition. He told Hello Magazine: "I think it means a lot to the players and to tennis fans to see the royal family at Wimbledon. It's part of the tradition of Wimbledon and the fans really like that, especially the overseas fans."
Harry's Goat Yoga
The Duke of Sussex took part in goat yoga during a visit to Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire. He lay on his back as goats trampled over him, and someone joked that his security team had failed to protect the "crown jewels" when one animal stepped on his crotch. Harry shouted "ow" as he covered the area, prompting laughter.
Future Plans
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have no more scheduled appointments in the UK and are expected to head back to California. Harry's official itinerary concluded after the Invictus Games events and the family reunion. There are no plans for Harry and William to meet during this visit.
