Princess Kate delights Wimbledon fans with surprise queue visit, takes up a unique volunteering role before watching tennis stars in action(via X)The Princess of Wales brought smiles to tennis fans with a surprise visit to the Wimbledon queue on Thursday. Before watching the day’s matches, Kate spent time greeting spectators who had waited for hours to secure tickets. She chatted with visitors, posed for selfies, and even helped staff scan tickets at the entrance to the All England Club.Dressed in a smart blue suit with her hair tied back in a ponytail, Kate looked relaxed and cheerful throughout the visit. The appearance came just days after she completed the demanding Three Peaks Challenge in support of the Royal Marsden Hospital. As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the Princess once again showed her close connection with the famous tournament.Princess Kate meets fans, helps staff, and celebrates Wimbledon traditionPrincess Kate received a warm welcome as she arrived at the All England Club on day four of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. Hundreds of tennis fans were delighted to see her walking through the famous queue, where many had camped overnight to get tickets.She stopped several times to speak with visitors, shake hands, and pose for selfies. In one heartwarming moment, she hugged a fan. She also shared a high-five with another excited supporter before making her way towards the ticket office.Kate then joined tournament staff and briefly helped scan tickets as spectators entered the grounds. She also met organisers and volunteers working behind the scenes to ensure the championships ran smoothly.Later in the day, the Princess headed to Court 18. She watched British player Arthur Fery take on Finland’s Otto Virtanen in the second round. Kate was joined by former British number one Tim Henman and All England Club chair Deborah Jevans.The royal visit also included time with children from Shine Camera Club, a community photography programme that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds build confidence and creativity. The children were invited to photograph the Wimbledon Championships, and Kate viewed some of their work while learning more about the charity’s activities.The Princess has long been known as one of the biggest royal supporters of tennis. She regularly attends Wimbledon and presents the men’s and women’s singles trophies at the end of the tournament.Her love for the event began long before she became a member of the Royal Family. During a conversation with British tennis star Emma Raducanu in 2023, Kate explained that she used to queue outside Wimbledon with her father Michael and her sister Pippa when she was young. She recalled that they arrived very early in the morning because getting ground passes was special, and being part of the championships created lasting family memories.Kate became patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club in 2016 after Queen Elizabeth II stepped down from the role following more than six decades of service. Since then, the Princess has become one of the tournament’s most recognisable royal figures.