RICHARD EDEN: ‘Sussex Squad’ feverishly await Kate Wimbledon comeback
Her presence would generate more excitement among the Wimbledon crowd than even the moment a Royal actually played at the tournament back in 1926. That was when King Charles’s grandfather, George VI, competed in the men’s doubles tournament alongside his friend and mentor Sir Louis Greig.
And, increasingly, there are hopes that the Princess of Wales, could attend the Championships this weekend to present the trophies after the finals.
Catherine’s attendance has, of course, been taken for granted in previous years. As Patron of the All England club since 2016, she’s become synonymous with Wimbledon as strawberries and cream.
Kate attending the quarter final match between Andy Murray and David Ferrer in 2012
Sporting a lime green jacket and stylish big sunglasses at Wimbledon last year before news that she was suffering from cancer
As a keen tennis player herself, as well as a family friend of former Wimbledon star Tim Henman, the princess has always relished the opportunity to watch games from the Royal Box.
This year is different, of course. She has not been able to visit because of her continuing treatment for cancer – and it may be no coincidence that spectator numbers have fallen, too. Although fans go for the tennis, there’s nothing like a spot of royal-watching to boost ticket sales.
So it’s little surprise that fans are in a fever of anticipation about whether Catherine might make the Wimbledon finals.
But the speculation has, almost inevitably, led to a rash of unkind comments from the so-called Sussex Squad, those obsessive online fans of Prince Harry and Meghan who revel in criticising other members of the Royal Family.
Their main point is that Catherine should not attend a sports event when she has been unable to carry out more serious public engagements.
They claim, without any evidence, that it would ‘prove’ she hadn’t been sick at all. This is the sort of deeply unpleasant trolling that the princess – just like other royals – has to put up with on a daily basis.
Before she appeared last month at the King’s Birthday Parade, as Trooping the Colour is formally known, the princess said she hoped ‘to join a few public engagements over the summer’.
Kate with Meghan Markle at the tennis championships in 2018 prior to the Royal family rift
Holding the winner’s trophy after the men’s singles final of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships
She stressed, though, that she had ‘good days and bad days’ and was ‘not out of the woods yet’.
‘As anyone going through chemotherapy will know,’ she said in a poignant statement. ‘On those bad days you feel weak, tired and have to give in to your body resting.
‘But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.’
Let us all hope that she enjoys a couple of good days this weekend and can bring the tournament to light by her presence. While we saw Queen Camilla attend with her sister, Annabel Elliot, yesterday, and have spotted other Windsors including Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice among the spectators on other days, the Royal Box has lacked the winning touch that Catherine brings.
She should ignore the malign nonsense of the trolls. Most right-thinking people would understand that, while she might not be well enough for more arduous duties, a relaxing day at the tennis could be just the tonic to lift her spirits and aid her recovery.
Not only would it be Advantage Catherine, but it would lift the nation’s spirits as well.
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