Princess Kate left BBC commentators and the public amazed during her appearance at Wimbledon on day four of the tournament
The Princess of Wales left BBC commentators amazed after she greeted tennis fans who spent the night camping out in the Wimbledon queue and scanned their tickets. Kate, who wore a blue linen suit by Gabriella Hearst, serves as patron of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club (AELTC) and makes regular visits to Wimbledon each year.
She was the sole royal to head to SW19 for Thursday’s play, joining tennis legend Tim Henman to watch Arthur Fery on Court 18.
Fresh from completing the Three Peaks Challenge over the weekend to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Hospital, the 44-year-old chatted to tennis enthusiasts who had spent hours queuing. The renowned queue is often packed with thousands of hopefuls attempting to buy tickets on the day.
Kate didn’t simply stop at talking to them, though, as she was later seen scanning the tickets of those entering the grounds. BBC commentator Chris Bradnam was left astonished that fans had the opportunity to meet Princess Kate as she scanned their tickets at SW19.
Bradnam said on air: “Her Royal Highness, Catherine Princess of Wales, she’s been on duty today, mixing it with the fans, and scanning tickets! Our floor manager Tim told me that – who’d have thought, they’d have been meeting her scanning her ticket, coming into the grounds today, and now [sat] in the middle of fans.”
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His co-commentator and former British tennis player Kyle Edmund appeared equally stunned, exclaiming: “Is that right!” When distributing tickets, and operating a card machine, the princess apologised for “taking ages” and told relieved attendees that they must be “desperate to get in and have a drink” after queuing for so long.
She was later spotted on Court 18, where she took her seat alongside former British No. 1 Henman and All England Club chair Deborah Jevans to watch Britain’s Fery in his second round clash against Finland’s Otto Virtanen.
Kate slipped into the court largely unnoticed during a break at the fifth game of the first set, with Fery leading 3-2 on serve but trailing 1-0 in sets before the Brit went on to win in four sets.
Having watched a portion of the match, Kate departed alongside Henman before making her way into the tournament’s media centre. She was then escorted upstairs to the players’ and hospitality area, where she met with children from the local Shine Camera Club – an organisation that helps youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds build confidence, creativity and self-expression through photography.
Later in the afternoon, she popped up again on cameras at No. 1 Court, this time watching Katie Swan take on No. 26 seed Madison Keys, with Andy Murray and Anne Keothavong by her side.
BBC Wimbledon presenter Isa Guha also shed light on Kate’s schedule for day four, revealing that she would sit down for an interview with former women’s tennis player Keothavong later on Thursday.
“The Princess of Wales has been watching on on Court 18 with Tim Henman. She came in a little bit earlier. She surprised some fans. That was a lovely moment for them to be able to meet her,” she said.
“She spoke to some spectators over at the Hill. She’s always a favourite here at the Championships. I believe she’s going to be chatting to Anne Keothavong a little bit later as well. Great moments, great scenes here on day four.”
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