Princess Kate’s tender moment caught on camera

The moment Princess Kate comforted a player at the 2023 Wimbledon tennis championships in London, England, has resurfaced online, going viral ahead of this year’s tournament.

Kate is a long-time tennis fan, having been appointed patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in 2016 by Queen Elizabeth II. The princess attended the tournament for several days in the years following her marriage, presenting trophies as patron of the AELTC at both the men’s and women’s finals.

This year, the princess’s attendance has not been confirmed as she continues to receive treatment following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Last month, Kate said she hoped to attend some events over the summer as she continues her recovery. However, these will not be announced far in advance and will depend on Kate’s condition on the day, in consultation with her medical team.

With Prince Harry potentially missing out on this year’s Wimbledon tournament, which kicks off on July 1 and runs through July 14, fans have taken to social media to share their favorite highlights from years past.

Uploaded to in the 2023 women’s singles final against Czech Marketa Vondrousova.

The Princess attended the match to take part in the official awards ceremony, having watched from a prominent seat in the Royal Box at Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court.

Before Kate presented Jabeur with her second-place trophy, the princess was filmed discreetly congratulating her and placing her hand on her shoulder. Absent in the video, Kate also offered him a conciliatory hug.

X’s post has been viewed over 169,000 times and received over 1,900 likes to date. The caption reads: “That was Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales, consoling Ons Jabeur during the Wimbledon women’s final last year. Catherine has such empathy with people, that’s why we love her.”

Many fans also praised the video and Kate’s empathy on the tennis court.

As the 2024 championships approach, speculation about Kate’s potential appearance has increased. The princess herself said on June 14 that she hoped to be able to attend some events over the summer, after stepping away from the public eye to focus on her health earlier this year.

On June 27, AELTC chair Debbie Jevans told the British newspaper The telegraph that the club hoped the king would be healthy enough to present this year’s trophy presentation.

“We hope that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as patron of the club, but her health and recovery is the priority,” Jevans said. “We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we will work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.”

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweekroyal journalist, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on News weekThe Royals Facebook page.

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