Featured Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Topics: Wimbledon, Royal Family, Kate Middleton
Jen Thomas
Topics: Wimbledon, Royal Family, Kate Middleton
Wimbledon is one of the highest profile sporting events of the year, but Kate and Pippa Middleton found themselves at the centre of a cringeworthy moment attending a previous edition of the tournament.
The Princess of Wales and her sister Pippa had been watching the Wimbledon Men's Singles finals last year alongside Princess Charlotte in the royal box, as Carlos Alcaraz was crowned champion after defeating Novak Djokovic.
Kate Middleton presented Alcaraz with his trophy after the match, when there was another chance to congratulate him and stop for a chat once he had finished celebrating.
Kate introduced the champion to Princess Charlotte, before asking him who his favourite football player is ahead of Spain playing in the Euros final which was taking place on the same day.
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An unfortunate awkward moment then happened, when her sister Pippa also tried to chat to the champion.
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The Princess of Wales had just told Alcaraz to enjoy his win, when Pippa, who was stood a step behind her sister and niece, presumably wanted to congratulate the champion.
She made a gesture as if to say well done, as Kate also tried to draw his attention to Pippa.
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Just as this was happening, Alcaraz noticed somebody who was stood off to one side and he accidentally ignored the Middleton sisters, leaving Pippa hanging.
Ever the models of polite behaviour, after waiting for an awkward second, both Kate and Pippa began to applaud as Alcaraz made his way to the locker room with his trophy to celebrate.
Wimbledon was only Kate's second public appearance after revealing her cancer diagnosis, with the family being greeted with applause as they took their seats in the royal box at Centre Court.
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It's not the only awkward moment Pippa has suffered at Wimbledon though, after both she and Meghan Markle made errors at previous tournaments.
In 2017, Pippa Middleton and her mother Carole arrived fashionably late to the event, only to be told they were too late to enter the royal box.
The Daily Express reported that Pippa and Carole took seats behind the box instead, as they arrived late to the match to see Andy Murray and Benoit Paire.
They still looked like they had a lovely time though.
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Meghan Markle was refused entry to the royal box back in 2019, when she attended to watch her friend Serena Williams.
Unfortunately, she did not follow the strict dress code for the event and arrived wearing jeans, a white linen blazer, a black top and a panama hat.
Her outfit choice of jeans meant she wasn't allowed into the box, as jeans are not allowed.
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"She wanted to come incognito but there were problems," a Wimbledon official explained.
"They couldn't invite her into the Royal Box because she was wearing jeans but that didn't really matter because all she wanted to do was come and watch Serena."
The Wimbledon website lists 'jeans or denim of any type or colour (including white)' as being unsuitable for the members' and Royal Box enclosures, which require a 'smart' dress code.