Kate Middleton Steps Out at Wimbledon: All the Best Photos

07/14/2024 11:11 AM

The Princess of Wales made a royal return to the championships as she continues treatment for cancer

Kate Middleton is back at Wimbledon!

The Princess of Wales, 42, made her second public appearance of the year at the tennis championships on July 14. Princess Kate has been out of the spotlight for most of 2024 after announcing in March that she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

The avid tennis player has attended Wimbledon almost every year since she married Prince William in 2011, and her patronage of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club comes with the honor of presenting prizes to the winners.

Joining Kate at the finals was her daughter, Princess Charlotte, 9, and her younger sister, Pippa Middleton, 40.

Photographer Karwai Tang, who captured several sweet moments between the family, tells PEOPLE: "You can tell that all three of them were enjoying themselves — Charlotte is following the game like her mother. You can see their excitement."

Arriving in Style

Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte were all smiles when they arrived at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club before the match began at 9 a.m., local time.

The Princess of Wales poignantly coordinated her purple Safiyaa dress to the special green and purple bow pin she wears as club patron, a role she received from Queen Elizabeth in 2016.

Mom and Me

Princess Charlotte beamed as she made her way into the event with Princess Kate and All England Club chair, Debbie Jevans. Charlotte attended Wimbledon for the first time last year, where she got to watch her mom present prizes at the men's singes final.

In June, Jevans told the Telegraph Sportthat organizers were hopeful that the Princess of Wales would be able to attend Wimbledon again this year amid her treatment. She significantly sat with Princess Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, on the fourth day of the tournament on July 4.

Wimbledon Welcome

The royals took time for hellos before finding their seats, where Princess Kate shook hands (and Princess Charlotte squeezed pinkies!) with Wimbledon athlete Lucy Shuker, who competed in the ladies' wheelchair first round match on July 10.

"Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There's nothing quite like The Championships," Princess Kate's team wrote on X.

Back in the Stands

The Princess of Wales was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation as she walked into the Royal Box above Centre Court. Visibly moved, she smiled as she took a seat with Pippa and Charlotte, who looked up at her mother with love.

Girls' Day Out

"When she usually comes in, walks down the steps and into her seat. She doesn't normally stand and wave. But she stood for a while and took it all in," photographer Karwai Tang tells PEOPLE of on his take of Princess Kate's entry today.

"For her to acknowledge it and take in the applause was special. She seemed to look no different from the last Wimbledon. It felt like she is back."

Time Together

Pippa and Princess Charlotte shared a chat and a laugh as they leaned close together in the Royal Box. It's a little-known fact that Pippa's middle name is Charlotte, and the little princess served as a bridesmaid at her aunt's wedding in 2017.

Tight Bond

Tang tells PEOPLE that Princess Charlotte and Princess Kate were "giggling together and having a good old laugh" in the front row of the Royal Box. Despite its name, the prime space isn't exclusively reserved for royalty.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George also seem to have special permission to sit there, as kids traditionally aren't allowed!

Matching Fashion

The mom and daughter slipped on sunglasses during the fierce game between Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia — the same stars who met in the men's singles final last year.

The summer accessory is a must-have in the Royal Box, where hats are discouraged to avoid obstructing views!

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