Wimbledon, July 9, 2025 — What began as a typical day of championship tennis ended in a moment that no one in attendance will ever forget. Under a sky streaked with gold and the gentle hum of an emotional crowd, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her daughter Princess Charlotte took to center court — not to speak, but to sing.
It was an unannounced tribute, meant to honor not only the spirit of sport but the resilience of a nation that had recently endured tragedy, from natural disasters in Texas to personal struggles within the royal family. And the song they chose? None other than “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Approximately 140,000 punnets of strawberries and 10,000 liters of cream are consumed by those who are fortunate enough to obtain tickets to see it live.
Royal watchers are excited to see Kate at this year’s championships since she is anticipated to return to the royal spotlight on July 8 for French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit.
In 2023, Kate, who has supported the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, was assigned to present the trophies to the winners and runners-up at Wimbledon.
Ons Jabeur, a tennis player from Tunisia, broke down in tears after finishing second in two straight finals. The athlete also lost at the US Open Final that year, thus it was a difficult period for her.
The two paused to chat as Kate gave her her runners-up award.
In a departure from royal protocol, Kate, who is renowned for her compassionate actions, gave the obviously troubled athlete a hug and words of support.
Hugs all round: 15. Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, still holding the winners trophy, hugs a tearful Jabeur of Tunisia as she leaves the court
This isn’t the only time Kate has broken royal protocol by swapping a stiff handshake for a hug.
Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur was tearful after coming runner-up in two consecutive finals. It was a tough time for the athlete as she also lost at the US Open Final that year
Kate, known for her kind gestures, offered words of encouragement and embraced the visibly distressed athlete in a break from royal protocol
In an interview, Jabeur said: ‘Obviously, she was very nice. She didn’t know if she wanted to give me a hug or not. I told her hugs are always welcome from me.’
When she was asked what Kate had said to her, she added: ‘Same thing after last year. To encourage me to be strong, to come back and win a Grand Slam, win a Wimbledon.’
The Princess has been a fan of the sport since childhood, with the royal telling Sue Barker in a 2017 BBC documentary: ‘I have watched Wimbledon, that was very much part of my growing up.
‘I think it really inspires youngsters, myself, it inspired me when I was younger to get involved in the game. It hasn’t changed either, I think that’s what’s so wonderful.’
Speaking to Hello!, Jabeur added that the Royal initiated the warm embrace, noting her kind energy was a significant support: ‘She was really the nicest. She has watched me twice, losing the final twice.
‘She kept asking me if she could hug me, and I was like, “Who doesn’t want a hug from a Princess, you know?”
‘For me, it was such an amazing moment. And not just that, I felt her kindness and energy around me.’
This comes as the tennis star had to retire just 26 minutes into the first round during this year’s tournament.
In an interview, Jabeur said: ‘Obviously, she was very nice. She didn’t know if she wanted to give me a hug or not. I told her hugs are always welcome from me’
‘For me, it was such an amazing moment. And not just that, I felt her kindness and energy around me,’ said Jabeur
When she was asked what Kate had said to her, she added: ‘Same thing after last year. To encourage me to be strong, to come back and win a Grand Slam, win a Wimbledon’
Jabeur needed medical assistance midway through the first set but ultimately withdrew from her match with Viktoriya Tomova.
As this year’s tournament is well underway, the likes of John Cena, Thomas Tuchel and Olivia Rodrigo have all been part of the star-studded line-up in the Royal Box.
The courtside Royal Box has served as a VIP area since 1922 and includes access to a private clubhouse for lunch, along with a ‘smart’ dress code.
Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, made her first Wimbledon appearance in more than two decades as she was spotted on the first day of the renowned tennis competition with her daughter, Princess Beatrice.
It’s the first time the ex-wife of Prince Andrew has been seen at the prestigious tennis tournament since 2000 when she watched Venus and Serena Williams during the semi-finals of the women’s singles.
However, during the tournament, the duchess wasn’t seated in the Royal Box, which she had often graced alongside Princess Diana between the 1980s and 1990s.
Last year, Kate was joined by her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister, Pippa Matthews, for the men’s final, marking her second major appearance of the year amid her cancer treatment.
The only time the Princess missed the tournament was in 2013 when she was weeks away from welcoming her first child, Prince George.
