Wimbledon is back to full capacity this year with some famous faces playing a visit to the Royal Box. The tennis competition typically hosts the Duchess of Cambridge year on year, who is a huge fan of the sport and is also patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
But it seems that one year she was stopped from attending the tournament - despite her pleas to be allowed to go - and missed a huge British win, according to the Mirror.
In 2013, Andy Murray made it to the men's final and was gunning to become the first British man to win the Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936. Kate appeared to be eager to be at Wimbledon to cheer him on but was heavily pregnant with Prince George at the time, so was advised to watch the match from home.
Read more: Harry and Megan 'should step away' and use alternative royal titles
She told sports host Sue Barker on the BBC documentary Our Wimbledon: "I was very heavily pregnant with George so I wasn't able to turn up."
Sue replied: "But you had a great excuse!"
"I know but even still," Kate said. "I was sort of 'Maybe I could go' but the doctors were like 'no.' I wrote to [Andy Murray] afterwards saying sorry for not being there, but huge congratulations."
Fortunately, three years later when Murray made the final again, Kate was able to be there to see him lift his second Wimbledon title. She attended the final with her husband Prince William and couldn't contain her emotions when he served up a win. Meeting Murray after his match, Kate said: "Many congratulations, it was a great game."
While William said: "So pleased for you, well done", and Kate added: "You can relax with your family now."
Two years ago, Kate referred to Murray as one of her sporting heroes during a call to schoolchildren. As the championship was cancelled due to the pandemic, the duchess appeared via video link asking the pupils on their sports training before revealing she had her pal Andy Murray waiting on the line.
Cheekily giving a handful of clues to leave children in no doubt as to who was coming, she told them: “I've got a very important person here that's going to come and join us, that would love to meet you guys and might be able to share some tennis tips as well with you" before introducing the Wimbledon winner.
It was recently revealed why Kate Middleton always wears the same accessory, a green and purple bow, to watch matches at Wimbledon - to represent the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The only people allowed to wear these colours are the patron (Kate), president, the committee of management, vice presidents, and four members of executive staff.
Read next:
