Princess Kate attends Wimbledon men’s final since cancer diagnosis

LONDON — Kate, the Princess of Wales, attended the men’s final at Wimbledon Sunday, in a rare public appearance since she announced her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. 

A big tennis fan, Kate, 42, has been a fixture in the Royal Box for many years, often attending with her husband Prince William and other members of the Royal Family. This year she was joined by her daughter Charlotte, 9, and sister Pippa Middleton Matthews, 40.

Wearing a long purple dress, Kate smiled and waved at the crowds as she made her way to Wimbledon’s Centre Court where she was greeted by a standing ovation ahead of the Grand Slam final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Kate’s public appearances have been limited since she revealed she was undergoing treatment for cancer earlier this year. William, 42, and their children George, 10, Charlotte and Louis, 5, have also largely been out of the public eye in recent months.

Last month however, Kate attended the Trooping the Colour in London, an annual military ceremony that celebrates the official birthday of King Charles III. 

Ahead of her appearance she shared an update on her cancer treatment, saying in a written message that she was “not out of the woods yet” and that she had “good days and bad days.” She said she was “making good progress,” but that her treatment would continue for a few more months.

Kate’s health had become the subject of widespread speculation and baseless conspiracy theories after the palace said she would be taking a step back from public duties following planned abdominal surgery in January.

The wife of Britain’s future king responded to the months of fervent speculation with a video in March in which she revealed that she had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

Her announcement came after her father-in-law King Charles III announced his own cancer diagnosis in February. Doctors discovered the disease after he was hospitalized with an enlarged prostate, although the palace has said that he does not have prostate cancer.

The 75-year-old monarch and Kate have declined to specify what type of cancer they have or details about their prognoses.

Charles has attended several engagements since he resumed public duties last month, including D-Day memorial services in France.

After Kate attends the tennis, a few hours later, Kensington Palace said in a statement that William will cheer on England as they play Spain in the Euro 2024 soccer final in Berlin, Germany.

Earlier in the tournament, William, who is president of England’s Football Association, watched the team play against Switzerland and Denmark as they progressed to the showpiece event.