FROM THE WEBSITE: The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is the National Governing Body for tennis in Great Britain, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and is responsible for developing and promoting the sport while safeguarding the integrity of tennis.
The LTA’s mission is to get more people playing tennis, more often. They make sure that clubs, parks and schools offer the right facilities, access and support so that anyone, of any ability, can play tennis in a place that suits them.
INFORMATION:
– The Princess of Wales became Patron of The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and the Lawn Tennis Association in December 2016.
– The patronages were passed down to The Princess by Queen Elizabeth. She had been Patron of Wimbledon since 1952.
QUOTES:
EFFORTS:
June 27, 2011 – Wimbledon – Day 7 – The Championships – In their fist appearance in the Royal Box together Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend Day 7 of Wimbledon Championships. The couple were on hand to watch Andy Murray take on Richard Gasquet. The couple joined other guests including the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Michael of Kent, David Bernstein, the chairman of the Football Association and Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England.
July 04, 2012 – Wimbledon – Day 9 – The Championships – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended Day 9 of the Wimbledon Championships. The couple watched Roger Federer take on Mikhail Youzhny and their favorite Andy Murray play against Spain’s David Ferrer. The couple sat in the Royal Box with the parents of former British player Tim Henman where they were spotted chatting it up quite a bit.
July 08, 2012 – Wimbledon – Finals – The Championships – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with her sister Pippa Middleton attended the Wimbledon men’s final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. The sisters joined The Duke of Kent, President of Wimbledon, The Duchess of Gloucester and British Prime Minister David Cameron, and celebrities David and Victoria Beckham. Catherine and Pippa seemed to be having a great time as they appeared quite chatty and acting a bit silly.
August 02, 2012 – 2012 Olympic Games – Day 6 – Tennis – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge of Cambridge attend the quarter-finals for both men and at the All England Club during Day 6 of the Olympics. The couple cheered their particular favorite Andy Murray on to victory and met up with him to congratulate him after his match. The couple were in high spirits as they got in on some crowd participation with ‘the wave’.
July 02, 2014 – Wimbledon – Day 9 – The Championships – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge were on hand to watch as fan favorite Andy Murray took on Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter finals. The couple sat in the Royal Box with the The Duke of Kent, President of Wimbledon and AELTC chairman Philip Brook. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Murray’s day as he lost in three straight sets 6-1.
July 06, 2014 – Day 13: The Championships – Wimbledon – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend day thirteen of the Wimbledon Championships for the men’s singles final watching Roger Federer take on Novak Djokovic. Notable celebrities in attendance included Bradley Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson, and David and Victoria Beckham. The pair later congratulated Novak Djokovic on his win.
July 15, 2015 – Day 9: The Championships – Wimbledon – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends day nine of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in London, England. The couple were in attendance to see Andy Murray who compete against Vasek Pospisil in the gentlemen’s quarter-finals. The couple were joined in the Royal Box with a number of other royals like Prince Albert of Monaco and the Countess of Wessex. William and Catherine also met actor Josh Hartnett.
February 24, 2016 – The Duchess of Cambridge Visits Edinburgh – The Duchess of Cambridge had the opportunity to visit Craigmount High School in Edinburgh and participate in a brief Tennis on the Road session, a grassroots program Judy Murray developed. The visit was timely as the Lawn Tennis Association announced its support for the initiative. Tennis on the Road was created to enhance Scotland’s coaching workforce, aiming to develop the game from the grassroots level. The program aims to bring tennis to communities with limited existing activity and establish a local workforce to ensure the sport is accessible to everyone. The program showcases how parents, teachers, coaches, students, volunteers, and sports development teams can deliver exciting and engaging starter sessions to children and young teens. Judy Murray, who spearheads much of the content, bases it on the games and skill-building activities that Grand Slam champions Andy and Jamie loved to play when they were children. From rackets warm-up to bean bag tennis, balloon rallies, and relay races, The Duchess enjoyed all the fun activities to develop the skills needed to play a complex coordination sport like tennis.
July 07, 2016 – The Championships – Wimbledon – Day 10 – TCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends day nine of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Upon arrival The Duchess took moment to chat with tournament officials, service personnel, and the ball boys and girls. The Royal Box was full of celebrities and Royalty alike as both Venus and Serena Williams were in action. An exciting moment came happened when Wimbledon champion Serena Williams posted a Snapchat video of herself with The Duchess of Cambridge and Sophie, Countess of Wessex after her match. In the nine second video Serena exclaimed: “So I’m in the in-crowd now, I’m with royalty!”
July 10, 2016 – Wimbledon – Day 13 – The Championships – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Wimbledon men’s final to watch fan favorite Andy Murray win against Canadian Milos Raonic as well as the doubles final in which Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen won against Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Robert Farah. After the match the couple chatted and congratulated Andy Murray on his win.
July 03, 2017 – Visiting The All England Lawn Tennis And Croquet Club – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits on day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon in London, England. In her first visit since taking over as Patron from the Queen, Catherine met with everyone from past and current players to the medical team, staff, volunteers, and ball boys and girls before settling into the Royal Box to watch the action alongside AELTC chairman Philip Brook and The Duke of Kent, President of Wimbledon.
July 16, 2017 – Wimbledon – Day 13 – Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the Men’s Singles Final during day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, United Kingdom. The pair joined notable figures like the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra and actors Hugh Grant and Bradley Cooper. The couple also took time to congratulate winner Roger Federer, the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and chat with Garbine Muguruza who had won her first Wimbledon title the day before in the women’s final.
October 31, 2017 – Visiting The Lawn Tennis Association – The Duchess of Cambridge had a busy day at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, southwest London, where she participated in a Tennis for Kids coaching session, met with top junior players, and spoke with coaches and administrators from Coach Core. She was also introduced to LTA staff, helping grow the game’s grassroots, sports science staff, and various tennis captains. British No.1 Johanna Konta was on hand to provide her expertise during the Tennis for Kids session, while double Wimbledon champion Alfie Hewett showcased his skills on the court. Before leaving, the Duchess was given flowers and gifts from the Children’s Heart Federation and a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
January 17, 2018 – Visiting The Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative – Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, visited Bond Primary School in Mitcham to observe the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI), the AELTC’s community coaching program. With the support of the Wimbledon Foundation, the WJTI has introduced more than 195,000 children to their first hit of a tennis ball in Merton and Wandsworth. The initiative visits 65 primary schools annually, inviting children who exhibit particular potential to attend weekly and weekend training sessions at The All England Club. During her visit, The Duchess of Cambridge joined in some of the WJTI’s regular drills, which aim to teach young people tennis while promoting the development of essential life skills and values such as teamwork, discipline, and fairness. The Duchess of Cambridge expressed her gratitude to the schoolchildren and stated that she enjoyed playing with them and that tennis is a fantastic sport that promotes a healthy lifestyle.
March 13, 2018 – Tennis Initiatives Ducssions At Buckingham Palace – The Duchess of Cambridge hosted a roundtable meeting with representatives from the Lawn Tennis Association (British Tennis), Wimbledon and Coach Core as well as Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray and retired British pro tennis player Tim Henman at Buckingham Palace to discuss children’s tennis initiatives in the UK and access to the sport at grassroots level.
July 14, 2018 – Wimbledon – Day 12 – The Championships – In their first public appearance without their husbands, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex attended the Wimbledon Championships. They were accompanied by Club Chairman Philip Brook and interacted with several young participants of the Championships, which included the American girls’ doubles finalists Caty McNally and Whitney Osuigwe, wheelchair players Lucy Shuker of Great Britain and KG Montjane of South Africa, and four ball boys and girls. The duchesses also had a conversation with 11-year-old Tia Carter, who had been selected to perform the pre-match coin toss at the ladies’ singles final. Tia was representing the Royal Air Force and the RAF Benevolent Fund, which supports children and young people growing up around RAF stations in the UK. She was accompanied by her father, Wayne, who serves at RAF Brize Norton. Tia’s mother, Joyce, who also served in the RAF, passed away suddenly in November. Tia received support from Airplay, the RAF Benevolent Fund’s flagship youth support scheme, as she coped with her loss. In an interview with Wimbledon, Tia mentioned that she was excited to meet two members of the royal family but was quite nervous about doing the coin toss in front of so many people.
July 15, 2018 – Wimbledon – Day 13 – The Championships – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Gentlemen’s Singles Final of the Championships at Wimbledon. Upon arrival the couple chatted with tennis players Rod Laver and Kim Clijsters. The Duke and Duchess then joined other notable figures including Prime Minister Theresa May, Hugh Grant, and Eddie Redmayne in watching the action. William and Catherine congratulated winner Novak Djokovic after his match.
July 02, 2019 – Wimbledon – Day 2 – The Championships – The Duchess of Cambridge watched Britain’s Harriet Dart play against U.S. player Christina McHale in Wimbledon’s outer courts with Anna Keothavong and Katie Boulter, both ladies, along with Harriet have previously recieved support from SportsAid, a charity that offers financial support to athletes at the beginning stages of their careers. The Duchess has been Patron since 2013. Later, Catherine moved to the Royal Box to watch Angelique Kerber vs Tatijana Maria. During her visit The Duchess also visited the Aorangi Park to see the practice courts and players’ warm-up area. There she met Johanna Konta and Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray. She also met a number of finalists and winners nominated for the annual LTA Tennis Awards which recognize people who volunteer at grassroots level to grow and open up the sport.
July 13, 2019 – Wimbledon – Day 12 – The Championships – The Duchess of Cambridge accompanied by her sister-in-law Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex and her sister Pippa Matthews attended the Wimbledon Women’s Final between Serena Williams and Simona Halep. Catherine arrived early to meet with players, volunteers and former champions. The Ladies’ Singles Final match was a quick one as Simona Halep beat Serena Williams in 55 minutes to win her first Wimbledon title. Catherine met Halep briefly after the match offering congratulations and telling her to ‘enjoy the celebrations’.
July 14, 2019 – Wimbledon – Day 13 – The Championships – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Gentlemen’s Singles Final.The Duke and Duchess met ballboys and ballgirls before heading to the Royal Box to watch Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the finals. Catherine’s mother Carole, sister Pippa, brother James and his girlfriend Alizee Thevenet were also in attendance. It was a whirlwind of the match-up lasting five hours with Novak Djokovic winning his fifth Wimbledon title. For the first time as Patron, The Duchess presented the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Final trophies alongside The Duke of Kent who is President of The All England Lawn Tennis Club.
May 27, 2021 – Royal Visit: Scotland – Day 4 – Set 2 – The Duke and Duchess visited Edinburgh Leisure’s Craiglockhart Tennis Centre. They were there to learn more about the new program and participate in Lawn Tennis Association Youth drills with local children. The couple heard about the principles behind the program from Scott Lloyd (Chief Executive, LTA) and Olly Scadgell (Participation Director, LTA). After that, the Royal couple joined children from Canal View Primary School, Edinburgh on the court. They participated in hopscotch warm-up before picking up rackets and balls to play floor tennis against a partner. The Royal couple even competed with the children to see who could keep rallies going the longest. Their Royal Highnesses captained a team of children in an epic game of ‘team cones’ with each child playing a mini-match against the others to secure a point for their team. It was a close game, but ultimately, the Duke’s team was victorious. Before leaving, all the children present were given LTA Youth rackets to inspire them to become young tennis players.
July 02, 2021 – Wimbledon – Day 5 – The Duchess of Cambridge’s recent visit to Wimbledon was a heartening sight after the tournament’s cancellation in 2020 due to the pandemic. During her visit, the Duchess explored the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and viewed a special exhibition celebrating the Centenary of Centre Court. She also took some time to lend a helping hand in the kitchens on the grounds, where 200 meals a day were being prepared and distributed to those affected by the pandemic. Additionally, the Duchess shared her “unbiased prediction” on social media about the players she’d like to see win, with a natural preference for players from the U.K.
July 10, 2021 – Wimbledon – Day 12 – The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William attended the women’s final at Wimbledon, where Ashleigh Barty emerged victorious in three sets, clinching her second Grand Slam title. As the Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Catherine presented the winner with her trophy. She applauded her performance before walking away to let Barty bask in the glory of her victory. Later, the couple took to social media to express their admiration for both athletes and the incredible support that echoed through centre court. Catherine also took the time to meet with Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett, the British athletes who won the Wimbledon men’s wheelchair doubles title, and shared a short video clip of their encounter. During the match, the royal duo also enjoyed conversing with Billie Jean King, one of the most renowned players in the sport. Priyanka Chopra Jonas was also present in the royal box. Notably, this was the Duchess’s first public outing since she went into self-isolation after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
September 24, 2021 – The Duchess Meets British US Open Champion – The Duchess of Cambridge attended a celebration organized by the LTA Youth program for Great Britain’s U.S. Open Champions at the National Tennis Centre. She met with Emma Raducanu, who recently won the U.S. Open, and other champions such as Joe Salisbury, Alfie Hewitt, and Gordon Reid to congratulate them and hear about their experiences at the tournament. Raducanu rose to fame at Wimbledon and made history by being the first woman to enter via qualifying rounds and win the U.S. Open. During the event, Catherine even joined Raducanu in a doubles game. She also spent time with participants in the LTA Youth program, which aims to provide opportunities for children aged four to 18 to play tennis at a grassroots level.
July 05, 2022 – Wimbledon – Day 9 – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended Wimbledon to watch the men’s singles quarterfinal match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Jannik Sinner of Italy and the U.K.’s Cameron Norrie take on David Goffin of Belgium. The Duchess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, also attended. The Duchess of Cambridge was spotted blowing them a kiss as she and William took their seats.
July 09, 2022 – Wimbledon – Day 13 – The Duchess of Cambridge attended Wimbledon for the women’s finals between Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. Rybakina emerged victorious and won her first Grand Slam title, lifting the Venus Rosewater dish. It was quite a star-studded event as Tom Cruise was also in the royal box. Additionally, Ralph Lauren partnered with The All England Lawn Tennis Club to redesign the uniforms for chair umpires, line umpires, and ball boys and girls, utilizing more sustainable and innovative fabrics made from recycled materials.
July 10, 2022 – Wimbledon – Day 14 – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George attended Wimbledon. It’s the first time the young Prince has attended with his parents. They were there to watch the men’s final between Nick Kyrgios and the defending champion, Novak Djokovic. After Djokovic’s win, the family went inside, where he allowed Prince George to hold the coveted trophy. Prince William joked, “Don’t drop it,” as the young Prince had the trophy. Catherine carefully took the trophy from the young Prince and returned it to the champion.
June 08. 2023 – Celebrating Wimbledon’s Ball Girls and Boys – Ahead of the Championships in 2023, The Princess of Wales visited the All England Club to participate in a doubles rally with Roger Federer. She practiced her serve with the eight-time Wimbledon champion before joining the training sessions of the 250 Ball Boys and Girls (BBGs) selected for this year’s tournament. The BBGs are trained on various aspects of the game, including how to bounce balls correctly and the proper way to signal for a change. The Princess of Wales also took part in their training, highlighting the importance of their role in the event’s overall success. It is worth noting that Wimbledon is known for its strict etiquette, and every aspect of the tournament is governed by it. The footage of the royal with this year’s BBGs will be played throughout the tournament to emphasize their significance to the event.
July 04, 2023 – Wimbledon – Day 2 – The Princess of Wales attended Day 2 of Wimbledon. It was a joyous occasion as Catherine has been the Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club since 2016. As soon as she arrived, she immediately spoke with the ball boys, girls, and volunteers, showing her appreciation for their hard work. Catherine then visited Court 18 to watch Katie Boulter take on Australia’s Daria Saville. Afterward, Catherine moved to the Royal Box, where she was joined by the recently retired tennis great Roger Federer and his wife to watch Elena Rybakina take on Shelby Rogers. Lastly, Catherine enjoyed watching Andy Murray and Ryan Peniston play. It was truly an unforgettable day for all the tennis fans in attendance.
July 15, 2023 – Wimbledon – Day 13 – The Princess of Wales attended Wimbledon for the Women’s Singles Final, where Czech Marketa Vondrousova took on Tunisian Ons Jabeur. Before taking her seat in the Royal Box, Catherine met with individuals who had various roles throughout Wimbledon. The princess also met representatives from the British Army, London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police. Following the match, she presented the trophy to Markéta Vondroušová. Catherine also met with Ons Jabeur, and a sweet moment occurred when they shared a hug. Jabeur talked about the moment during her press conference. “She didn’t know if she wants to give me a hug or not. I told her hugs are always welcome from me. That was a very nice moment and she’s always nice to me.”
July 16, 2023 – Wimbledon – Day 14 – The Royal Box at Wimbledon was packed on Day 14 with several distinguished guests. The Prince and Princess of Wales graced the occasion with their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Waleses were accompanied by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, their son and daughter-in-law, Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor. HM King Felipe VI, the reigning king of Spain, was also present to cheer on Carlos Alcaraz and support him in his quest for a Wimbledon victory. His Excellency Jose Pascual Marco Martinez, the Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was seen alongside King Felipe VI. Daniel Craig was also in attendance.
July 14, 2024 – Wimbledon – Day 14 – The Princess of Wales made a notable appearance in The Royal Box during Wimbledon, marking her second public engagement of 2024 following her cancer diagnosis and treatment announcement in March. She was accompanied by her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister, Pippa Matthews. Upon her arrival, the Princess received a warm standing ovation.
The Princess’s close associates, including her private secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Tom White; her assistant private secretary, Natalie Barrows; and Lee Thompson, the communications secretary at Kensington Palace, further enriched the royal presence. Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, completed the royal group.
The Princess of Wales attended the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles Final, featuring Carlos Alcaraz and seven-time title-holder Novak Djokovic. As Patron of the Club since 2016, she fulfilled her royal duty by presenting Alcaraz with the winner’s trophy after the match. Following the game, the royals had the opportunity to meet and congratulate the players personally, celebrating Alcaraz’s second Wimbledon title.
