The Princess of Wales lit up Centre Court with laughter during the Wimbledon men’s singles final on Sunday, after a heartfelt fan shout broke the usual quiet of the post-match ceremony.
As Princess Kate stepped onto the court to perform her official trophy presentation duties, one enthusiastic voice rang out from the crowd: “I love you, Kate!” The 43-year-old royal couldn’t help but smile and laugh in response, bringing a warm and spontaneous moment to the formal occasion.
Kate, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, was on hand to present the trophies to this year’s finalists—Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. Before approaching the trophy table, she greeted the ball boys and girls, in keeping with the tournament’s traditions.
The Princess handed the runner-up trophy to Alcaraz, who gave a respectful bow as he accepted it. The Spanish player is no stranger to such royal presentations—he previously received his winner’s trophy from Princess Kate after back-to-back victories at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024.
Jannik Sinner, this year’s champion, received his first Wimbledon title from the Princess. The two exchanged a few words during the handover, capturing a historic moment for the young Italian star.
Princess Kate’s role at the tournament goes beyond ceremony. As patron of the club—a title passed to her by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016—her presence at Wimbledon has become a beloved tradition, with fans and players alike looking forward to her annual appearance.
For Sunday’s final, Kate was joined by Prince William and their two eldest children, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte. Prince Louis, who turned seven in April, was notably absent—continuing a royal pattern where the youngest children typically make their Wimbledon debuts at the age of eight.
The family outing followed Kate’s appearance at Saturday’s ladies’ singles final, her first visit to this year’s tournament. The crowd greeted her with a standing ovation, a clear show of affection and support following her public update on her ongoing recovery from cancer treatment.
On Saturday, she sat in the front row of the Royal Box beside tennis icon Billie Jean King, a 20-time Wimbledon champion. Kate presented the trophies to Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who won the championship, and American Amanda Anisimova, the runner-up.
Since marrying Prince William in 2011, Wimbledon has been a near-annual tradition for the Princess of Wales. Her love of tennis is well known, and her consistent presence at the tournament has only deepened the royal connection to one of Britain’s most cherished sporting events.