Kate Middleton’s Parents Attend Wimbledon Again amid Speculation of Her Possible Appearance This Weekend

Wimbledon organizers previously said they were “hopeful” that Princess Kate would present the tennis tournament’s prizes amid her cancer treatment

Kate Middleton’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, are back at Wimbledon as royal watchers wonder whether the Princess of Wales will attend the tennis tournament while undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Princess of Wales’ parents stepped out on July 10 for the tenth day of the competition at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, of which their daughter serves as patron. Dedicated tennis player Princess Kate, 42, has attended Wimbledon almost every year since she married Prince William in 2011 but has not appeared there this summer as she continues to prioritize her health in private.

Carole, 69, and Michael, 75, are known to attend the event most years and made their event debut at this year’s competition on July 4.

The quarterfinals on July 10 drew several members of the royal family, with Queen Camilla, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall all in attendance.

Princess Kate’s parents sat in the front row of the Royal Box when they went to Wimbledon on July 4, where they were seated beside All England Club chair Debbie Jevans. In June, Jevans told Telegraph Sport that organizers would give the Princess of Wales, 42, “as much flexibility as possible” regarding the possibility of presenting trophies at Wimbledon amid her cancer treatment.

Queen Elizabeth named Kate the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016, and the role comes with the honor of presenting prizes to the champions. Jevans said her team was “hopeful” that the Princess of Wales could continue the tradition this year.

“We’re hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the Club’s patron, but her health and recovery is the priority,” she told the outlet in a piece published on June 27. “We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we’ll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.”

The Telegraph Sport further reported that the call on who will present the trophies may not be made until the morning of the finals, scheduled for July 13 and 14.

On July 8, The Telegraph reported that Wimbledon has “earmarked” another member of the royal family to distribute trophies if Princess Kate does not attend. The outlet said that Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester may be tapped for the task, aligning with her longtime role as Honorary President of the Lawn Tennis Association and apparent passion for the sport.

The Duchess of Gloucester is married to Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, and has attended Wimbledon twice since the competition began on July 1.

Princess Kate made her first and only public appearance this year at Trooping the Colour on June 15, stepping out for King Charles’ birthday parade in London.

The Princess of Wales revealed her plans to attend Trooping the Colour in a personal message issued the day prior. The letter marked the first personal update on her health since she announced in March that she has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.

“I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” Princess Kate said in part.