It’s going to be the biggest Sunday of sport for decades – and the royals are likely to be in the thick of it.
Although there has been no official confirmation yet, the Prince of Wales is expected to fly to Berlin to watch his beloved England play their first ever major final on foreign soil.
Meanwhile back in the UK, Wimbledon officials remain ‘hopeful’ that his wife, the Princess of Wales, may feel well enough to hand out their own trophies over the weekend.
Contingency plans are in place for the Duchess of Gloucester, who is a massive tennis fan and has been an Honorary President of the Lawn Tennis Association for 25 years, to step in if Kate is unavailable due to her ongoing preventative cancer treatment. And no promises have been made by Kensington Palace.
The princess herself said last month that she hoped to attend the occasional engagement over the summer but urged the public to bear with her as, like many cancer patients, she has good and bad days.
The Princess of Wales presents the trophy to runner-up Ons Jabeur in 2023. Officials are hoping she will be well enough to attend the final this year
The Prince of Wales with FA CEO Mark Bullingham at the Euro 2024 quarter final between England and Switzerland. While not confirmed, William is hoped to travel to Berlin for England’s first major final on foreign soil
Catherine’s only public appearance since her cancer diagnosis was alongside her family at Trooping the Colour last month, her presence at which was only confirmed the day before
But All England Club chair Debbie Jevans has said they are giving Kate ‘as much flexibility as possible’ – including leaving a final decision until the morning of the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday.
‘We’re hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the Club’s patron, but her health and recovery is the priority,’ she said recently.
‘We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we’ll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.’ Prince George – later King George V – became the club’s first President in 1907 and there have been close links between it and the Royal Family ever since.
The Princess of Wales has been patron of the All England Club for eight years, after taking over from Queen Elizabeth, who had served in the role since 1952. Since 2016 the princess has presented the trophies each year.
However she has only made one public appearance this year due to her ongoing health issues, when she attended Trooping the Colour last month, a decision which wasn’t formally announced until the day before.
There will also be huge anticipation as to whether any of the couple’s children will attend with their parents.
William, 42, has frequently taken his eldest son, Prince George, to football matches, both in an official role and privately to his beloved Aston Villa, while Princess Charlotte attended her first Wimbledon men’s final, along with her elder brother, last year.
July 16, 2023: The Princess of Wales presents Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz with the trophy after he defeated Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final
July 15, 2023: Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova receives the trophy from the Princess of Wales after winning her women’s singles final match against Tunisian Ons Jabeur
Kate has only been seen once in public since announcing her cancer diagnosis, but said she hoped to attend the occasional summer engagement
July 4, 2024 — Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton in the Royal Box for the Wimbledon Championships last week alongside All England Club chair Debbie Jevans (right)
July 6, 2024 — Prince William reacts while watching England defeat Switzerland on penalties in Dusseldorf in the Euro 2024 quarter final last Saturday
But Kensington Palace makes a point of never announcing engagements involving the children until much nearer the time.
Yesterday William was smilingly forced to apologise for his ‘hoarse’ voice as he delivered a speech about his mission to end homelessness the morning after the England men’s football team reached the Euro semi finals.
The Prince told guests he had been screaming with excitement over a ‘hell of a goal’.
He was seen punching the air as he celebrated England’s win against Switzerland on penalties, calling the game ‘nail biting’.
He is both President of the FA and an avid fan of Aston Villa, the home club of goal scorer Ollie Watkins.
‘I’ve got a hoarse voice from last night!’ the Prince said.
‘I had a little moment when I thought ‘…he might do this’!? I was willing him on when he came on. It was a hell of a goal.’ Later in the event, as someone congratulated him on the result, he looked delighted but laughed: ‘I didn’t play last night, I can’t take credit for it.’