The Princess of Wales made her first appearance at this year’s Wimbledon Championships on Thursday, carrying out a series of engagements as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) before watching play at the iconic tournament in southwest London.
Kate’s visit included meeting tennis fans, volunteers and children participating in a community photography programme, highlighting both the sporting tradition and charitable outreach associated with the Championships.
Kate Greets Fans Waiting in Wimbledon’s Famous Queue
After arriving at the All England Club, the Princess visited the famous Wimbledon Queue, where thousands of spectators wait each day for the chance to purchase tickets.
She met attendees who had been lining up since the early hours of the morning, personally handed out grounds passes to several fans, and spoke with visitors who had camped overnight in nearby Wimbledon Park to secure entry to the tournament.
Kate also thanked the AELTC’s Honorary Stewards, the volunteers responsible for managing the Queue and welcoming guests throughout the Championships.
Elegant Blue Ensemble Marks Wimbledon Return
For the occasion, the Princess opted for a tailored royal blue suit paired with a white top, complementing the outfit with lapis and moonstone earrings and sunglasses.
She wore her hair in a neatly styled updo, allowing her jewellery to stand out, while keeping her appearance understated with light makeup as she carried out official engagements around the grounds.
Princess to Watch Matches on Outside Courts
Following her meetings with fans and volunteers, the Princess was scheduled to watch one of the day’s matches on an outside court alongside All England Club Chair Deborah Jevans.
It remained unclear whether she would later make an appearance in Centre Court’s Royal Box, where several high-profile matches were scheduled, including women’s third seed Iga Swiatek’s second-round contest against Karolina Pliskova.
The day’s Centre Court programme also featured French rising star Arthur Fils against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, before former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina faced American Caty McNally.
Community Photography Project Takes Centre Stage
As part of her visit, Kate was also due to meet children from Shine Camera Club, a photography initiative operated through the charity SHINE Merton.
Founded in 2021 by photographer Cindy Sasha, the programme provides free photography education to children in Mitcham, helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds build confidence, creativity and self-expression through visual storytelling.
The Princess was expected to view photographs taken by the children during this year’s Championships while learning more about the programme’s impact on local communities.
Partnership With Wimbledon Continues
Shine Camera Club has previously collaborated with Wimbledon. In 2025, participating students created a portrait exhibition celebrating community role models, with their work later displayed during the Wimbledon qualifying tournament.
This year’s project gives the children the opportunity to document the Championships themselves, offering practical experience while showcasing their creative talents.
Longstanding Wimbledon Patron Maintains Annual Tradition
Kate has served as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016 and has become one of the tournament’s most recognisable royal supporters.
She has attended Wimbledon in almost every year since 2011, missing only the 2013 Championships while pregnant with Prince George and the cancelled 2020 tournament during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her most recent appearance came at the 2025 men’s singles final, where she presented the championship trophy to Jannik Sinner after his victory. She was joined on that occasion by the Prince of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Appearance Follows Recent Endurance Challenge
The Princess’s Wimbledon visit comes only days after completing the demanding Three Peaks Challenge.
She undertook the endurance event independently, receiving support from Mountain Rescue teams during the journey before reuniting with her family at the final stage near the base of Snowdon in Wales, adding another public engagement to an active week of royal duties.
