Kate Middleton the Princess of Wales, was spotted at Wimbledon on Sunday afternoon handing over the winner’s trophy to a chuffed Carlos Alcaraz, but not before she was caught on camera confessing her support for his opponent.
Donning a stunning purple Safiyaa frock, Kate rocked up to Sunday’s nail-biter with her mini-me, Princess Charlotte, and her sister Pippa Matthews. The trio of royals got a warm Royal welcome with cheers and claps as they settled into their prime seats in the Royal box at Centre Court.
At one heated moment, Kate was seen having a chat with Charlotte and flashing a mega-watt grin, which lip reading whizz Nicola Hickling from the Mirror soon deciphered. According to the expert, she said: “It’s happening at the end – Djokovic is my favourite to win.”
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However, iturns out, Kate’s hunch was off the mark as tennis legend Novak Djokovic got a pasting from Alcaraz in the final, with the Spanish ace bagging his second Wimbledon crown on the trot. Before handing over the silverware to Alcaraz, Kate shared a consoling handshake with the beaten Djokovic.
Earlier on, Kate and Charlotte had a meet and greet with British tennis stars Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Lily Miyazaki, Lucy Shuker, and Flora Johnson on the lush lawns of Wimbledon before hitting Centre Court. Little Charlotte even made a “pinky promise” with wheelchair tennis champ Shuker to give the sport a whirl with her mum, reports the Mirror.
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.”
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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.