Deborah Jevans, the chair of the All England Club, has issued an update on the Princess of Wales’ attendance at Wimbledon this year.
The princess is a keen tennis fan and frequently visits Wimbledon across the season.
This year however it is unclear whether the royal will be able to attend the event due to her presentative chemotherapy for her cancer diagnosis.
As reported by the Daily Express, Deborah Jevans, the chair of the All England Club, said: “Our priority is clearly that our Patron has the time to recover and we’re certainly not going to add any additional pressure on her recovery by speculating on her attendance at this year’s Championships.”
Kate Middleton at Wimbledon last year
PA
When asked who would present the trophies to the champions on July 13 and 14 if the princess was unable to make it, she added: “And when it comes to the presentation ceremony, as in previous years, we will announce those that are going to be a part of that ceremony on the morning of the finals, so nothing has changed in that regard.”
This comes as fans have began to speculate whether Princess Kate will appear at Trooping the Colour this weekend.
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Kate is the patron of the All England Club
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Last week, the Princess of Wales wrote that she hopes to be back in her public role representing the Irish Guards “very soon”.
Kate, 42, has not confirmed whether or not she will be making an appearance this weekend.
The mother-of-three stepped back from public life earlier this year after beginning a course of preventative chemotherapy.
Palace sources have dismissed requests to clarify whether Kate’s letter indicated an upcoming return to public life.
Kate revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year Getty
One Palace source close to the princess said the situation remains the same, that she is out of the public eye receiving treatment, needs her privacy and an update will be given “when there is one”.
Another source claimed the letter to the Irish Guards should not be over-analysed.
They told The Daily Beast: “I think to pick through the wording of her letter looking for clues to her intentions is a mistake.
“I am sure she does hope to be able to represent the Irish Guards again ‘very soon’ in an uncomplicated, normal understanding of that sentiment.
She has taken a step back from her public-facing duties
PA
“The thing about William and Kate is that they honestly do a lot of this stuff themselves. It’s not like the old days of Queen Elizabeth II where the men in grey wrote something and the Queen just signed it without any input. This was very clearly demonstrated with the photoshopped Mother’s Day image. For good or ill, they write the letters and take the pictures and tell their staff, ‘send it out’.
“Some people found it preposterous to be asked to believe that Catherine was sitting at the kitchen table with her laptop editing a picture William took. But I can tell you, anyone who has worked for that couple would know that is exactly what happened.
“My understanding is that there is no timeframe for Catherine returning to public duties. I actually don’t think her note implies she is going to be charging down to their headquarters to inspect a parade next month.
“I honestly think it’s just a classic case of the Waleses not feeling they need to ask for advice when it comes to sending a simple letter.”