Kate Middleton relayed a message from her "boys," Prince George and Prince Louis.
The Princess of Wales, 42, went to the final day of the Wimbledon tennis championships on July 14 with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister, Pippa Middleton, in her second public appearance this year as she continues cancer treatment. While it was a girls' day out in the Royal Box at Centre Court, Kate had her sons —Prince George, 10, and Prince Louis, 6 — top of mind when they greeted Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the clubhouse after he defeated Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's singles final.
"The boys want to know who your favorite Spanish footballer is?" the royal mom asked during the brief chat seen in a video shared by Wimbledon.
"We'll have to watch out!" Princess Kate added with a laugh after the 21-year-old tennis star shared his answer.
The question likely came up as Spain's soccer squad was competing in the UEFA European Championship against England on the same day as the tennis tournament's final. And like Alcaraz, Spain took home the winning prize.
Dedicated soccer fan and Football Association president Prince William attended the game in Germany, bringing along Prince George as his surprise guest.
The father and son passionately reacted with similar expressions as they followed the game and sweetly shared a tight hug after England scored its only goal.
Though they didn't make the trip, Princess Kate, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis revealed that they had watched the soccer championship by posting a rare photo from home on social media the next day. The snap showed Charlotte and Louis photographed from behind with soccer on the TV, wearing jerseys featuring their names and current ages as the numbers.
"@England, your teamwork, grit and determination were an inspiration to all of us, young and old. Congratulations to Spain," William and Kate wrote below the note signed "W & C," their first initials.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have passed down their love of sports to their three kids, and Kate alluded to the shared fandom over tennis in her conversatio -
n with Alcaraz.
"We've watched a lot on telly, so it's great to finally get to meet you," the Princess of Wales told him in the video shared by Wimbledon. She also introduced him to Charlotte, who shook his hand, and revealed that her 9-year-old daughter had been "cheering him on."
"Now are you playing in the Olympics? It's a quick turnaround, isn't it!" Princess Kate said, as the Paris Summer Olympics kick off on July 26.
The Princess of Wales and Alcaraz had already chatted before the clubhouse meeting on July 14, as she presented him with the Gentlemen's Singles Challenge Cup following the final, where he defeated Djokovic 6-2 6-2 7-6(4). Princess Kate has served as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (where Wimbledon is held) since 2016, and the job comes with the honor of presenting prizes to the champions.
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The 2024 men's singles final was a repeat from last year, as Alcaraz beat Djokovic in the same event in July 2023.
In a post-game interview on July 14, Djokovic spoke about what it meant to have Princess Kate attend Wimbledon as she continues treatment for cancer and his impressions of her that day.
"Yes, it was of course a privilege to be in her presence again. I've said to her that it is very nice to see her in good health. She seems to be in good health, so that's obviously very positive news for everyone in this country but also for Wimbledon, for the championships, to have Her Royal Highness here, of course with her family members," Djokovic, 37, said in a press conference following the final.
"It's amazing. It's incredible support they've been giving over the years to this tournament," he continued. "I know that she and her sister have played tennis for a very long time. So they truly respect, admire the game. They also understand tennis, which is great. It's wonderful to have that kind of support from the royal family."
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