Kate Middleton's 'long-held' promise to Princess Charlotte she kept at Wimbledon after feeling mum 'guilt'
They went to watch the tennis in 2024 together as a special 'treat' amid the Princess of Wales's cancer treatment
The Princess of Wales has rarely missed Wimbledon since becoming a senior royal and that included the championships in 2024. She was still undergoing cancer treatment at the time and had only made one other public appearance that year, making her attendance at the Men's Singles Final even more significant.
Kate was visibly moved by the delighted reaction from the crowd as she took her seat with Princess Charlotte and Pippa Middleton. This was Charlotte's second ever trip to Wimbledon and it was reportedly a special "treat" her mum had committed too.
"It was a long-held promise that Kate would take Charlotte to the finals as a special treat," royal expert and author Ingrid Seward previously claimed to The Sun. "Kate felt guilty she hadn't been able to spend as much time as she would have liked to be with the kids because of her exhaustion after her treatment."
Ingrid added, "It is a super special day for Kate to be able to share it with Charlotte and much more fun for her to have Charlotte there and explain to her the details of what is going on.”
It's so special to think that the Princess of Wales might've planned particular outings with her children so she could catch up on some quality time with them. Charlotte is also a big tennis fan and although Prince George has often gone to Wimbledon before, this time Kate clearly wanted it to be a mum and daughter day.
Balancing cancer treatment with being a hands-on mum wouldn't have been easy and a friend claimed in Russell Myers' William & Catherine that she and William "shared what information they deemed appropriate at the right times with the children".
"What Catherine was able to do was really centre in on what was important to her," they added. "Which was being around her family, and her loved ones, and concentrating on the little moments".
The Princess of Wales fulfilled her Wimbledon promise to Charlotte and went to the final, even though the day might have been tiring too. According to author of Kate!, Christopher Andersen, she reportedly confessed after Trooping the Colour a few weeks earlier - "Unless they've been through it…people don't realise how much chemo takes out of you."
Just over two years later, Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge - climbing the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland - as a "chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back".
She raised money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and was welcomed by her husband, children, parents and brother at the end. The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a series of sweet family snaps, including one of Kate hugging her daughter.
She looked like she was wearing a woven bracelet, possibly made by friendship bracelet-maker Charlotte and mother and daughter could soon enjoy another memorable moment together.
Last year Prince William, Kate, George and Charlotte all attended the Wimbledon Men's Final and I'm sure the children would jump at the chance to go again this year.
