Kate will hand over the winner’s trophy on Centre Court as Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova compete for the Wimbledon ladies’ singles title, guaranteeing the first Czech champion since Petra Kvitová in 2014.
The Princess of Wales will attend Wimbledon’s ladies’ singles final on Saturday, Kensington Palace has confirmed, watching Karolina Muchova take on fellow Czech player Linda Noskova on Centre Court. Kate, 44, who serves as patron of the All England Club, is due to present the trophy to the winner on day 13 of the championships, assisted by club chief executive Sally Bolton. The all-Czech final guarantees the nation its first Wimbledon women’s champion since Petra Kvitová’s second title in 2014. It will mark Kate’s second appearance at the tournament this year, having also attended during the opening week.
A historic all-Czech final
Saturday’s showpiece brings together two players in very different stages of their careers. Karolina Muchova is chasing her first Wimbledon singles title, while Linda Noskova is contesting her maiden Grand Slam singles final. Whichever of the pair lifts the trophy, the result is already guaranteed to deliver the first Czech women’s Wimbledon champion since Petra Kvitová won her second title in 2014.
Kate’s role as trophy-presenter and patron
Kate has been patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016, having taken on the role from Queen Elizabeth II after the late monarch held it for more than six decades. She is expected to present both the runners-up and winners’ trophies on Centre Court following the final, assisted by All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton. She will be accompanied at the match by club chairwoman Deborah Jevans and Lawn Tennis Association president Roy Colabawalla. According to tradition, the princess is greeted with a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd whenever she attends, a reflection of her popularity among tennis fans, and Wimbledon has remained one of the few public engagements she has continued to prioritise in recent years because of her long-standing connection to the Championships.
A second visit to Centre Court this year
Saturday’s final will not be Kate’s first appearance at this year’s Championships. She attended during the opening week, watching British player Arthur Fery’s second-round match against Otto Virtanen alongside Ms Jevans and former British number one Tim Henman. She was also seen with British tennis stars Sir Andy Murray and Anne Keothavong for Katie Swan’s match against American Madison Keys. During that visit, Kate discussed the “challenges” of parenthood and admired the athleticism of the players, Keothavong said. Other royal box guests during the tournament have included the princess’s mother, Carole Middleton, and her sister, Pippa Matthews, who attended on Monday alongside the Duchess of Gloucester.
Fery’s run ends, but not before royal praise
Arthur Fery’s run to the semi-finals drew particular attention from the Royal Family. The Queen cheered him on as he won his quarter-final match on Wednesday, and Kate later congratulated him on the result and wished him well for the next round. Writing on X, she said: “A memorable day at @Wimbledon. Congratulations to Arthur Fery on becoming the first British wildcard to reach the Gentlemen’s Singles semi-finals in the Open Era, a fantastic achievement that has inspired so many. Wishing you the very best for the next round.” Fery’s Championships came to an end on Friday, when he was beaten by men’s finalist Alexander Zverev, who will face defending champion Jannik Sinner on Centre Court on Sunday.
