Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, a passionate patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, embraced young tennis star Jannik Sinner. This extraordinary meeting happened just days after his monumental victory at Wimbledon. Sinner, who became the first Italian to win a singles title at the prestigious tournament, received his trophy from the Princess after an intense four-set battle against Carlos Alcaraz. On that bright July day, members of the royal family came together to lend their support to the historic event. Prince William, as well as their two oldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte watched with pride from the royal box.
The Princess of Wales regularly attends both the Men’s and Women’s Finals at Wimbledon and has instilled her love of tennis in her children. Prince George’s first appearance on camera came in 2022 when he accompanied his parents to Wimbledon. This year, it was Princess Charlotte who made her royal box debut with pride. The Chans’ story made even more headlines as they became the focus of this highly revered sporting event.
Following the match, the Princess of Monaco thanked Sinner for his “sensitive” gesture in meeting her children. She sent him “massive congratulations” on his impressive accomplishment.
“In the beginning, I didn’t know what to say. I asked the kids if they play tennis and asked them what kind of rackets they play with, these kind of things.” – Jannik Sinner
During the post-match presser, Sinner was happy to talk about having finally met the royal family. He mentioned how the children’s excitement for tennis was a product of their mother’s excitement for tennis.
“You see how much they care about tennis and the sport itself. It’s very prestigious. I’ve been lucky to meet her and the whole family, and it was a very nice moment.” – Jannik Sinner
Along with Spain’s royal family, King Felipe VI of Spain was in attendance to support the young Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz. In his announcement, Alcaraz thanked King Felipe VI for attending the finals on all four days. He stressed what big occasions these are in the sport of tennis.
After his stunning upset win, Sinner presented signed tennis balls to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The sweet, spontaneous gesture resulted in an adorable interaction between the young royals and the UK sports legend.
Wimbledon is a unique blend of sporting excellence and royal charm. Sinner’s victory has further cemented the relationship between the tournament and the British royal family. In addition to the characters mentioned, the Princess of Wales continues to be an inspiring force in spreading tennis and involving her kids in the sport.
