Will Kate be back for Wimbledon? Officials are ‘hopeful’ princess will present trophies just weeks after she boosted the nation with appearance at Trooping the Colour
The Princess of Wales could attend Wimbledon this year after officials said they were “hopeful” she would present the trophies to the champions.
Debbie Jevans, president of the All England Club, said they would give Kate “as much flexibility as possible” while she continues her cancer treatment, including delaying the search for a replacement.
The Princess, who is an avid player herself, has been patron of the AELTC since 2016.
Traditionally, she presents the trophies every year and attends various competitions during the tournament.
She is currently not performing any official duties due to her ongoing preventative chemotherapy treatment, after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year.
Kate Middleton with Princess Charlotte at Wimbledon in 2023. The Princess of Wales could go to Wimbledon this year after officials said they were ‘hopeful’ she would present trophies to the champions
Kate presents Carlos Alcaraz of Spain with the winners trophy after the Gentlemen’s Singles Final on Center Court
Kate attends Day 2 of the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Kensington Palace officials did not confirm any future engagements and stressed that, as the Princess herself said, she has “good days and bad days.”
The Princess of Wales talking to Gill Brook, wife of Philip Brook, then chairman of the All England Club, during a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2012
However, she did attend Trooping the Color two weeks ago and said in a statement that while she wasn’t ready to return to work full-time, she hoped to take part in “a few public appearances over the summer.” .
Kensington Palace has said they will not confirm anything until much closer to the date of her engagement due to the uncertainty surrounding her treatment.
Speaking about this year’s world-famous championships, which start on Monday, Telegraph Sport quoted Ms Jevans as saying: ‘We hope the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as patron of the club, but her health and recovery are poor. the priority. We don’t know what we don’t know. All we said is that we will work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.
“I don’t know who would present the trophies as an alternative – that’s something to consider if necessary. We remain flexible. “When we hear it, we will think about what is the right thing to do.”
Officials at Kensington Palace did not confirm any future engagements and stressed that, as the princess herself said, she had “good days and bad days”. A source added: “Everything is speculative at this stage.”
In a personal message written earlier this month, the princess candidly admitted that her progress was good, but that she was ‘not out of the woods yet’.
‘As anyone undergoing chemotherapy knows, there are good days and bad days. My treatment is ongoing and will last for a few more months…I…hope to participate in a few public performances this summer, but I also know that I’m not out of the woods yet.
Kate presented the Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy at Wimbledon last year. She traditionally presented the trophies each year, and also attended several matches during the tournament
Kate joined the rest of the royal family on the balcony during the Trooping of the Colors earlier this month. In a statement, she said that while she was not yet ready to return to work full-time, she hoped to “do a few public appearances in the summer”
‘I’m learning to be patient, especially when it comes to uncertainty.’
The presentation of the royal trophy is seen as a hugely important tradition at Wimbledon and if the Princess were to attend it would be a huge coup for the AELTC.
While the club has not yet set out alternative plans for the trophy presentation, options could include another member of the royal family or even Jevans herself, as club chairman and former Wimbledon player.
Since Prince George – later King George V – became the club’s first president in 1907, ten members of the royal family have presented the Wimbledon trophies.
The then Duchess of Cambridge took over the role of patroness from Queen Elizabeth II, who held the position from 1952 to 2016 and presented the trophies on several occasions.