Catherine, Princess of Wales, surprised tennis fans as she admitted them into Wimbledon on Thursday (02.07.26).
Catherine, Princess of Wales at Wimbledon
The 44-year-old royal – who is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) – greeted those who had been queuing for entry as early as 4am before helping staff taking payments and scanning tickets on the fourth day of the prestigious tournament in London.
She told one group of attendees: “Have a really fun time.”
Catherine was seen laughing and posing for photographs with those in the queue, and when she enterted the grounds to take her own seat, the princess was welcomed with cheers and a round of applause.
She then joined former British tennis star Tim Henman and AELCTC chair Deborah Jevans on Court 18 to watch British hopeful Arthur Fery take on Otto Virtanen, as well as visiting Court One to see Katie Swan face Madison Keys.
As well as being an avid tennis fan, Catherine is also a keen photographer, and during her day at Wimbledon she met with youngsters from Shine Camera Club, a photography programme that supports children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The princess got to see the portrait series they created last year, before joining the group as they took pictures at the tournament.
Catherine’s appearance at Wimbledon came just days after she completed the mammoth Three Peaks Challenge to show what life looks like after a cancer diagnosis.
The princess – who temporarily stopped duties in 2024 to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of the disease – scaled Scotland’s Ben Nevis (1,345m), England’s Scafell Pike (978m), and Wales’ Mount Snowdon (1,085m) solo within 24 hours, finishing on Sunday (28.06.26).
Catherine – who was supported along the route by Mountain Rescue – was greeted by husband Prince William, their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, as well as her parents Michael and Carole Middleton, and her brother James Middleton at the base of Mount Snowdon after completing the challenge.
It followed a 23-mile trek, 3,064m of ascent, and a 462-mile journey between peaks driven by her aides.
Proceeds will go to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to support more people living with cancer to benefit from holistic care at The Royal Marsden, as well as fund research into different ways holistic treatments can work alongside clinical cancer treatments.
A photo of Catherine smiling at the summit of Ben Nevis on Saturday was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account on Sunday.
In a message, she wrote in part: “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone.
“I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.
“The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people.
“Through this challenge, I want to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare. Every individual is different, and ensuring there is a whole person approach to care enables those living through cancer to manage the deeply personal challenge of diagnosis.
“Holistic therapies complement clinical pathways and support patients’ ability to maintain their wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time.
“We have an opportunity to reshape what the future of holistic cancer care looks like, enabling more people, nationwide, to access the kind of personalised support that can help make a meaningful difference during and after medical treatment.
“This challenge will support the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, helping to transform access to, and understanding of, holistic care that will enhance recovery and healing for patients across the UK.”
