Wimbledon may not officially begin until July 3, but the Princess of Wales’s mind is already on SW19. Ahead of this year’s Championships, Kate Middleton headed to the All England Club for a doubles rally with Roger Federer, practising her serve with the eight-time Wimbledon champion, before taking part in training sessions with this year’s 250 Ball Boys and Girls.
It’s not the first time the Princess has hit the court with a professional; after Emma Raducanu’s historic Grand Slam victory in 2021, Kate played a match with the US Open champion at the National Tennis Centre.
Every aspect of Wimbledon is famously governed by strict etiquette–including the actions of its Ball Boys and Girls, or “BBGs.” In the months leading up to the tournament, the 13- to 15-year-olds are coached on everything from how to bounce balls correctly to the proper way to signal for a change—with the princess taking part in their training sessions.
Never one to defy a dress code, Kate Middleton wore a white vest and tennis skirt for the occasion, her blown-out curls swept up into a high ponytail, with a subtle pair of gold hoops in her ears. Footage of the royal with this year’s BBGs will play throughout the tournament, highlighting their importance to the overall event’s success.
For royal style watchers, seeing the princess’s annual take on Wimbledon whites is as much of interest as what’s happening on Centre Court. A few months after her 2011 wedding, Kate made her debut in the royal box in a cream Temperley London dress to watch Andy Murray face off with Richard Gasquet, before returning the following year in a sailor-inspired Alexander McQueen design.
In the decade since, the Princess of Wales experimented with polka-dot looks (including a Dolce & Gabbana design in 2017), a wildflower print (courtesy of Catherine Walker), and even a Jenny Packham dress in a tennis-ball pattern. Here’s hoping this year’s looks are as unexpected as her Trooping the Colour dress.
This article was originally published by British.
