Princess Kate and Roger Federer have formed a friendship through their various meetings at Wimbledon over the years. With this Swiss tennis icon nearing three years of retirement, these days he’s joining Her Royal Highness in the stands instead of putting on a show for the watching crowd.
She was in attendance to see him clinch a record-breaking eighth men’s singles title back in 2017 alongside husband William. Following his victory over Croatian Marin Cilic, the Prince and Princess of Wales were later seen congratulating Federer. Kate shocked royal fans by breaking protocol when she gave him three kisses instead of the usual one or two. One theory suggested it was because in Federer’s home country, it’s customary to greet friends with a trio of pecks.
Two years later, Kate returned to watch Federer at SW19 once again. On that occasion she was extending her commiserations rather than congratulations when presenting him with his runner-up trophy after his five-set thriller with Novak Djokovic.
It was their 2023 encounter that really captured the imagination. Federer had by then called time on his legendary career, taking to Centre Court as a fully-fledged fan for the first time.
He arrived to sit next to Kate in the Royal Box for Elena Rybakina’s win over Shelby Rogers, receiving a standing ovation befitting of his iconic status at the All England Club. But it went on so long that Kate had to take control of the situation.
Commentating for the BBC, former British No. 1 John Lloyd said: “The Princess of Wales had to give him a little nudge and tell him to sit down. It could have been another hour before we even started the match. It was great. Absolutely fantastic.”
The pair engaged in conversation throughout the match, although Federer was conscious of respecting the Wimbledon rules. He later said: “It was so fun sitting next to Princess Catherine. I know her quite well.
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“She is an avid tennis fan, and she plays herself. Sometimes we have to be careful we don’t speak too much. You can talk, and then it’s super quiet, and then you have to applaud.”
Kate has worked alongside him on various projects surrounding tennis, including one to highlight the work of the ball boys and girls. It was then that Federer pointed out that she’d broke Wimbledon’s protocol.
Trying her hand at the job, Kate impressively caught a flying ball. Federer pointed out that she meant to let it bounce first, telling her: “In Australia they would catch it but here in Wimbledon they don’t.”
His relationship with the Middleton family extends beyond Kate, as he gave Prince George some lessons on the court and attended her sister Pippa’s wedding to James Matthews in 2017 after she’d interviewed him for Vanity Fair four years prior. He’s got a particular fan too in their mother Carole, with the Princess of Wales once saying: “Roger is my mother’s heartthrob. I don’t think she will mind me saying that! I think he probably knows that too.”
