Kate Middleton's kind gesture broke royal protocol on three occasions at Wimbledon

Kate Middleton's kind gesture actually broke a number of royal protocols when the Duchess attended Wimbledon back in 2017

Kate Middleton's kind gesture
(Image credit: Ashley Western - CameraSport / Contributor / Getty Images)

Kate Middleton's kind gesture towards Roger Federer at Wimbledon reportedly backfired as it was revealed that the Duchess of Cambridge was actually breaking a royal protocol.


Among Kate Middleton's hobbies is the Duchess' love of tennis. Catherine is often seen at Wimbledon as a spectator or handing out awards as part of an official royal engagement. 

Although she has been attending Wimbledon for some time and as a senior member of the Royal Family, is aware of all the royal protocols that she must follow, reportedly back in 2017, the Duchess and Roger Federer broke some rules.

The Express reported that when Roger Federer won his eighth men’s Wimbledon title, Kate Middleton congratulated the tennis pro with three kisses on the cheeks. One kiss or two kisses on the cheeks is customary when greeting winners but it is thought that Kate opted for three kisses because that is the custom in Switzerland, where Roger is from. 

In a video posted by Wimbledon on social media at the time, the clip clearly shows Roger greeting his wife Mirka who watched his entire match, and then turning to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and greeting them. Roger seemed to only expect two kisses from Kate but graciously accepted a third as she went in for another kiss on the cheek.

Kate then said, "Very, very well played, it was amazing," as Roger turned to shake hands with Prince William. The Duke of Cambridge was also heard saying 'congratulations' to the tennis player.

Wimbledon is set to continue this week and will conclude on Sunday, July 10, 2022. It is thought that many royals will be attending in the coming weeks and watching from the Wimbledon Royal Box

Royal fans are excited to see members of the Royal Family at this sporting event and specifically the Duchess of Cambridge as many adore Kate Middleton's best Wimbledon looks and can't wait to see what Catherine will wear to the next match.

Laura Harman

Laura is the Entertainment Editor for woman&home who primarily covers television, film, and celebrity news. Laura loves drinking and eating and can often be found trying to get reservations at London's trendiest restaurants. When she's not wining and dining, Laura can also be found travelling, baking, and hiking with her dog.