Kate Middleton Braves Summer Heat To Attend Wimbledon

A heat wave at this year’s Wimbledon tennis tournament has led to fans collapsing under the blazing sun and a shortage of water. But Kate Middleton looked cool as a cucumber when she arrived at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Saturday, despite the high temperatures. The Princess of Wales took a seat in the royal box next to a King—but not the one you’d expect, though Middleton’s seatmates were arguably tennis royalty.

Billie Jean King and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

Karwai Tang

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Patron of The AELTC shakes hands with Billie Jean King in the Royal Box prior to the the Ladies’ Singles Final between Iga Swiatek of Poland and Amanda Anisimova of United States on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Billie Jean King waves in the Royal Box, prior to the the Ladies’ Singles Final between Iga Swiatek of Poland and Amanda Anisimova of United States on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

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Instead of King Charles III (who, Town and Country notes, has only attended Wimbledon twice, in 1970 and 2012), Kate Middleton was seated next to Billie Jean King, the tennis champ turned author who racked up 20 career titles at Wimbledon during her career (six in singles, 10 in women’s doubles, and four in mixed doubles). To Middleton’s right was Martina Navratilova, whose nine women’s singles wins remain an all-time record.

The women chatted and cheered during the women’s singles final between Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek and American Amanda Anisimova. Unlike some other spectators seated in the Royal Box this week, they appeared awake throughout.

Catherine, Princess of Wales attends day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

Karwai Tang

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Patron of The AELTC arrives in the Royal Box prior to the the Ladies’ Singles Final between Iga Swiatek of Poland and Amanda Anisimova of United States on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Patron of The AELTC reacts in the Royal Box prior to the the Ladies’ Singles Final between Iga Swiatek of Poland and Amanda Anisimova of United States on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Middleton appeared visibly moved when greeted with a standing ovation as she stepped into the Royal Box. A video of the entrance was posted to social media by Wimbledon’s official account with the caption “Centre Court rises to give a warm welcome to our Patron HRH The Princess of Wales,” a tough word choice given the high-profile issues this year’s competition has suffered due to the warmth.

The sentimentality is understandable, though. It was just last year that Middleton chose Wimbledon as one of her first public appearances following her cancer diagnosis, before retreating from the spotlight for much of 2024. Middleton, who is also known as an amateur ace, has been the patron of the All England Club since 2016—so the event has long been a priority on her schedule.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Patron of The AELTC prepares to present the Ladies’ Singles Runners Up Trophy following the Ladies’ Singles Final between Iga Swiatek of Poland and Amanda Anisimova of United States on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

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Catherine, Princess of Wales, Patron of The AELTC presents Iga Swiatek of Poland with the Ladies’ Singles Trophy following the Ladies’ Singles Final against against Amanda Anisimova of United States on day thirteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales gives the winner’s trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, to Poland’s Iga Swiatek (L) after her victory against US player Amanda Anisimova at the end of their women’s singles final tennis match on the thirteenth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2025.

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At the conclusion of the match, during which Swiatek defeated Anisimova 6-0, 6-0, Middleton presented the winner with the Venus Rosewater Dish, which since 1886 has been presented to the winner of that year’s women’s singles event. By then, the temperature was even higher, prompting renewed calls for the main court’s roofs to be retracted. But as of Saturday, the Club was still open to the skies—and the Princess remained as fresh as a daisy.