The Princess of Wales presented the Wimbledon men’s final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz today – but earlier was caught on camera telling Princess Charlotte she backed the other player
The Princess of Wales presented the Wimbledon men’s final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz today – but earlier was caught on camera admitting she backed the other player.
Kate, wearing a purple Safiyaa dress, attended Sunday’s final with daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Matthews. The royals were seen watching the match with fascination after being greeted with cheers and applause as they took their seats in the front row of the royal box at Centre Court.
At one point during the game, Kate could be seen leaning over and saying something to Charlotte before smiling widely. According to the Mirror’s lip reading expert Nicola Hickling, she said: “It’s happening at the end – Djokovic is my favourite to win.”
Her prediction was proved wrong as Novak Djokovic, widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of his time, was thrashed by Alcaraz in today’s final as the Spaniard claimed his second successive Wimbledon title. Before passing the trophy to Alcaraz, Kate commiserated and shook the hand of runner-up Djokovic.
Kate and Charlotte were earlier greeted by British players Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Lily Miyazaki, Lucy Shuker and Flora Johnson as they arrived on the players’ lawn at Wimbledon before entering Centre Court. Charlotte gave wheelchair tennis player Shuker a “pinky promise” that she would try the sport alongside her mother.
Kate was also introduced to Raducanu, who was knocked out in the fourth round of this year’s championships, telling her: “It was so hard to see you go out.” US Open winner Raducanu said it was “amazing” to have the support of the princess and “see her here looking so healthy and happy”.
Asked about Kate’s appearance at the tournament following her diagnosis, Raducanu said: “I think it just shows her resilience and how much of a role model she is and it’s amazing to see her here looking so healthy and happy.”
Kate has been undergoing chemotherapy and made her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London last month. She did not attend the women’s singles final on Saturday, and Wimbledon chairwoman Debbie Jevans presented the trophy to Barbora Krejcikova on her behalf. During their meeting on Sunday, Krejcikova gifted the Princess of Wales the racket she used during her victory.
Kate visited the championships several times last year and presented Alcaraz with his first Wimbledon trophy after watching him battle Djokovic in the men’s singles final.
On Friday, Kate missed a charity polo match as husband William took to the field to raise funds for good causes at Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park.
In a statement released last month, the princess revealed she is making good progress but “not out of the woods yet” and has “good days and bad days” as she continues her treatment.