Double-takes at Wimbledon as the Princess of Wales pops up in the queue
Updated . First published at
The Princess of Wales has made a low-key return to Wimbledon, surprising tennis fans by chatting to them as the queue and even trying her hand at selling tickets.
Days after the future queen scaled three of the UK’s largest peaks in 24 hours to raise money for the charity arm of the hospital where she was treated for cancer, Catherine braved the heat to put in an unannounced appearance at Day 4 of the tennis championship.
The Princess of Wales' first outing at Wimbledon 2026 was surprisingly low-key. Getty Images
Dressed in a cornflour blue linen pantsuit, which she teamed with a white top, and with her hair in a pony tail, the Princess met with tennis fans who were queuing to get into the venue.
She then made her way to the ticket office to lend a hand, where she showed she was a deft hand at operating an EFTPOS machine.
Afterwards, she took in two matches. First she watched British player Arthur Fery take on Finland’s Otto Virtanen.
She arrived at the match during the fifth set.
She then took her place to watch the tennis match between Katie Swan of Great Britain and Madison Keys of the US.
But instead of sitting in the royal box at either game, Catherine rubbed shoulders with regular fans − that’s if you count retired Scottish champion Andy Murray and retired English women’s plater Anne Keothavong as ‘regular’ people.
Catherine is likely to attend the tournament again at least twice more.
Kate sold tickets to tennis fans and posed for photos with those in the queue. Getty
There were double-takes as people realised who it was. Getty Images
As royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which hosts Wimbledon, she usually attends both the Ladies and Men’s finals, and presents the winner’s trophy at both.
Catherine was made royal patron by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2016.
The Princess is known to not just be a fan of watching tennis, but a keen player.
Catherine traded the royal box for a courtside seat for the action. Getty Images
She is now able to indulge her passion more frequently, with a tennis court taking pride of place at her and William’s new ‘forever home’ Forest Lodge in Windsor.
She and her three children with Prince William are also tennis fans, with Prince George once getting a private lesson from none other than Roger Federer.
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