Queen Camilla meets ball girls and boys at Wimbledon on July 12.Photo:Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images
Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images
Queen Camilla’s sharing her own connection to tennis!
The 74-year-old royalattended Wimbledonon Wednesday, taking in some of the matches at Centre Court and also meeting some of the staff members that ensure the tennis tournament runs smoothly, including some of the ball boys and girls.
During the chat, Queen Camilla asked the young woman if she was enjoying her first year as a ball girl.
Kate Middletonrecentlysaw firsthandthe intense training that the Wimbledon ball boys and girls undertake. The Princess of Wales, 41, teamed up with tennis starRoger Federerahead of the tournament, playing a few sets before doing drills.
“To see the training and the dedication and the amount of time that is put into the training and making sure this goes well on the day for the champions who are playing at Wimbledon … Yeah, it’s incredible to see it behind the scenes,” Princess Kate said in a video shared on social media.
Nowadays, Queen Camilla stays fit withballet classesand walks with King Charles (she’s previously said her husband is “like a mountain goat, he leaves everybody miles behind”). She even has sported astep trackeron her wrist during royal engagements.
When Queen Camilla took her seat in the Royal Box at Centre Court, she had a familiar face beside her: sister Annabel Elliot. The sisters have attended Wimbledon together in past years, but Annabel recently stepped into the spotlight at the coronation in May. She — along with Camilla’s friend Fiona Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice, the Marchioness of Lansdowne — acted as served as acoronation attendantfor the Queen during the crowning ceremony.
Annabel is also one of sixQueen’s Companionsfor Camilla, a modern spin on the traditional ladies-in-waiting that supported Queen Elizabeth throughout her reign.
Queen Camilla and Annabel Elliot at Wimbledon on July 12.Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Some noticed that despite her royal status, thetennis players did not bow or curtsy to Queen Camillaas they took the court.
Athletes competing on Centre Court used to bow or curtsy after taking the grass court if members of the royal family were seated in the Royal Box. In 2003, in accordance with the wishes of the Duke of Kent, the Club’s then-President, it was agreed to discontinue the tradition of players bowing or curtsying to members of the royal family. The rule was updated to apply only ifQueen Elizabethand then-Prince Charles— the sovereign and her heir — attended.
Players have opted to bow or curtsy to the royal awarding them their trophy in recent years — however, this is a personal choice at their own discretion.
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Since King Charles and Prince William have yet to attend Wimbledon since the start of the new reign, it remains to be seen if players will make the gesture to them. It’s likely that Prince William will join Princess Kate at the finals this weekend, as he’s done in past years.
source: people.com
