The Duchess of Cambridge has apparently revealed Prince George’s favourite tennis player is Roger Federer — and the five-year-old royal has even practised with him.
While many fans dream of meeting their sporting heroes, it appears George has gone one better, receiving tips from the eight-time Wimbledon champion.
The prince’s mother, Kate, reportedly made the revelation at the All England Club on Tuesday, when she watched British player Harriet Dart’s victory on court 14.
She is said to have told British Fed Cup captain Anne Keothavong, seated next to her, that George’s favourite player was the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam winner, and the pair have shared a court.
On Wimbledon Coffee Morning, a show broadcast on the tournament’s Facebook page, reporter Adam Hunt said he asked Keothavong what it was like to sit by Kate.
“Anne was just saying, ‘What a special day’ — and [Kate] is such a good ambassador for tennis. She comes to Wimbledon every year, she really likes tennis, she was talking about George, apparently.
“George’s favourite tennis player is Roger Federer, and he’s actually got to play with him. The whole family loves tennis, and George is apparently quite a good player.”
Kate and Prince William have their own court at Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk. Kate, who is a patron of the All England Club, revealed in 2017 that Prince George had started to learn to play tennis. At the time she asked LTA coach Sam Richardson for advice, and got tips from Judy Murray.
Federer, 37, and his wife Mirka are said to be close friends with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In 2017 they took their twin girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, nine, and twin boys Leo and Lennart, five, for a playdate at Kensington Palace.
The couple also attended the wedding of the Duchess’s sister, Pippa Middleton, to James Matthews the same year.
The Duchess has told the BBC: “Wimbledon is such a quintessential part of the English summer, and I think it really inspires youngsters — it inspired me, when I was younger — to get involved in the game. It hasn’t changed either; I think that’s what’s so wonderful.”
Londoner Dart, who plays her second round match today, said it was “surreal” to have Kate watch her match, while her mother, Susie, said the visit had inspired her daughter to her maiden Wimbledon singles victory.
