Carole and Michael Middleton Fuel Rumors of Princess Kate's Comeback
Carole and Michael Middleton, parents of Princess Kate, made their second appearance at Wimbledon this week, igniting speculation about the future Queen's return to the public eye.
The Middletons attended the tenth day of the competition at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, where their daughter serves as patron. The couple, regular attendees of the event, made their first appearance at this year's competition on July 4. The quarterfinals on July 10 also drew several royal family members, including Queen Camilla, Peter Phillips, and Zara Tindall.
The presence of Kate's parents and other royals at Wimbledon has raised hopes that Princess Kate might also attend the tournament to present trophies to the winners.
Princess Kate, 42, has been a regular presence at Wimbledon since marrying Prince William in 2011 but has not appeared this summer, as she continues to prioritize her health in private. The Middletons sat in the front row of the Royal Box on July 4, alongside All England Club chair Debbie Jevans.
In June, Jevans told Telegraph Sport that organizers would offer the Princess of Wales "as much flexibility as possible" regarding the possibility of presenting trophies at Wimbledon amidst her cancer treatment.
Kate was named patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club by Queen Elizabeth in 2016, a role that includes the honor of presenting prizes to the champions. Jevans added, "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."
Princess Kate made her first and only public appearance this year at Trooping the Colour on June 15. On Saturday, she shared a special tribute to Andy Murray on social media as the tennis star's Wimbledon career came to an end.
