There are sporting events that invite royalty as patrons and there are sporting events where the royal patron is the person who climbed three mountains alone last weekend and will present the trophy to the winner in two weeks, and Wimbledon is the second kind, beginning today.
Kate, Princess of Wales, visited The Queue at Wimbledon this morning as part of her annual role as royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, a position she has held since 2016 and which she has exercised every year the Championship has been held, without exception. She distributed grounds passes to the fans who camped overnight to secure their place in line, posed for photographs, and watched play on an outer court accompanied by Tim Henman and AELTC chair Deborah Jevans, per GB News. She wore a blue linen suit. She did not bring a medal.
The Championship runs through July 13. The women’s final is July 12. The men’s final is July 13. Kate will present the trophies at both. She presented Jannik Sinner’s men’s trophy last year and Jasmine Paolini’s women’s trophy, per GB News, and will return for both finals this fortnight in a role that requires her to be present, visible, and carrying silverware, which she performs with the kind of institutional consistency that has become the distinguishing feature of her royal contribution.
The royals who attend Wimbledon form a reliable annual presence in the Royal Box. The King attends when his health permits. William attends as a tennis fan and as President of the Football Association, a role whose primary beneficiary is currently in Seattle preparing for a round of 16 against Belgium. Kate attends as patron. The household’s participation in major British sporting institutions is one of the most consistent expressions of the working royal calendar, unchanged by illness, controversy, or security negotiations happening at the same time.
Harry will not be attending Wimbledon. His presence at the Championship has not been confirmed. His UK security application has been denied. The Queue was very happy to see Kate.
When the patron of Wimbledon distributes grounds passes to overnight fans two days after climbing three mountains alone, and will present the trophy at the end of the fortnight, what exactly is the job?
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