Ace timing! Isolatey Katie back for final
... and Duke will present last trophy after 52 years
The Duchess of Cambridge will attend the Wimbledon ladies’ final today with Prince William having completed a period of isolation after a contact of hers tested positive for Covid-19.
It was feared the avid tennis fan and patron of the All england Club may have to miss out on the penultimate day of the Championships.
But Kensington Palace announced yesterday that the duchess will be able to attend after first being alerted to the potential exposure on Friday, July 2.
On that day – eight days ago – she had attended the tournament, having tested negative for the virus.
Those who have been in contact with a Covid carrier must isolate for ten days from the day they encountered each other. But in practice close-contacts are often notified several days afterwards, meaning the isolation period is shorter.
Kate must have been in contact with an infected person two days before her first Wimbledon appearance for her to be able to attend today. She has continued to test negative for Covid.
The duchess’s return to SW19 comes as the Duke of Kent steps down as president of the All england Club after 52 years of service.
The 85-year-old first cousin of the Queen will be presenting the men’s singles trophy for the final time on Sunday, having done so on 350 occasions, to champions from Rod Laver and Ann Jones to Roger Federer, Sir Andy Murray and Serena Williams.
The duke said: ‘It has been an honour to serve this remarkable institution for as long as I have. To have seen this tournament, and the game of tennis, grow and inspire generations over the span of five decades has been an extraordinary experience, and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of it. I look forward now to watching as the young players of today pursue ever higher standards of excellence and I shall continue to cheer them on as they do.’
During his time, the duke opened six courts and facilities at Wimbledon, including the new Court One in 1997. he also ended the long-standing tradition of Centre Court players bowing or curtseying to the royal box in 2003, saying he thought it was ‘time to stop it’.
In 2019, Kate presented the men’s trophy to Novak Djokovic, in recognition of her role as patron. It is not clear who will present the Rosewater Dish after the women’s final. The All england Club said last night there were no immediate plans to fill the president’s position.
‘I shall continue to cheer them on’