Princess Kate Middleton is set to make her second public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March. The 45-year-old royal will attend the men’s singles final at Wimbledon on Sunday, July 14, as confirmed by Kensington Palace. This marks her first public outing since participating in the Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 15, told Page Six.
However, fans hoping to see Kate present the women’s division trophies on Saturday, July 13, will be disappointed. The Princess of Wales, who has regularly performed this duty in the past, will not be able to do so this year. The England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club had hoped for her return, but her health remains the top priority.
“We’re hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the Club’s patron, but her health and recovery is the priority,” said Debbie Jevans, chair of the England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in an interview with Telegraph Sport on July 4. “We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we’ll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.”
The princess’s absence from the public eye since her diagnosis has left many fans concerned. Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton attended Wimbledon on July 4, sparking hopes that she might make an appearance. As the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Kate has been a regular at the event, presenting trophies to the winners. Her reduced public engagements have been noticeable since her cancer diagnosis.
The public’s concern grew when Kate wasn’t seen for months following her appearance on December 23, 2023. On January 17, royal officials revealed that she had undergone planned abdominal surgery the previous day.
“Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales, was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery,” the statement read. “The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in the hospital for ten to fourteen days before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
The statement also mentioned that updates on Kate’s health would only be provided when significant new information was available. Her prolonged absence fueled rumors ranging from plastic surgery to a secret pregnancy. A video of Kate and Prince William visiting a local farmer’s market even led some to believe a lookalike was involved.
On March 22, Kate addressed the public, announcing her cancer diagnosis without specifying the type.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful,” Kate began in her statement. “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
As Kate prepares for her appearance at Wimbledon, fans and well-wishers continue to support her through her health journey, hoping to see her back to full strength and engaging in her royal duties.