Kate Middleton is set to honor a significant tradition next month as she prepares for her next public appearance.
As the Princess of Wales, Katherine regularly attends Wimbledon each year, and the All England Club is hopeful that she will make an appearance this year despite her ongoing cancer treatment. Debbie Jevans, Chair of the All England Club, expressed to Telegraph Sport that they will provide as much flexibility as possible to accommodate her health needs.
The Princess of Wales has been largely out of the public eye this year due to her treatment. Since 2016, she has served as the Patron of the All England Club. Jevans mentioned, "We are hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the club's Patron, but her health and recovery are the priority."
Royal commentator Emily Andrews noted that Katherine is considering attending Wimbledon for her next public appearance, following her recent attendance at Trooping the Colour earlier this month. Andrews added, "Her treatment is ongoing and will continue for the next few months, but she has expressed a desire to visit the Wimbledon tennis tournament if she feels up to it."
While the All England Club remains optimistic about Kate's attendance at the prestigious event, Jevans clarified that they have not received official confirmation from Kensington Palace. "We don't know what we don't know," she said. "All we've said is that we'll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible. We haven't decided on an alternative for presenting the trophies if necessary; it's something to consider closer to the time."
The tradition of royals presenting Wimbledon trophies dates back to 1907 when Prince George, who later became King George V, served as the club's first president. Since then, ten royals have presented the trophies, with Princess Katherine taking over the role of Patron from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2016. The late monarch, who passed away in 2022, served as Patron from 1952 to 2016 and frequently presented the trophies.
Princess Katherine made her first public appearance of the year earlier this month during the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony. The 42-year-old royal delighted fans by appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside other senior royals, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and their three children. Despite her appearance in London, her next public engagement remains uncertain.
In a statement released on June 14th, Princess Katherine confirmed her attendance at the King's Birthday Parade and provided a personal update on her health. "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," she wrote. "On those bad days, you feel weak and tired and must give in to your body's need for rest. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."
