Heartfelt moment at Wimbledon as 8-year-old gives Kate Middleton advice
A brave eight-year-old who had to learn to walk, talk and eat again told the UK’s Princess of Wales ‘Don’t be nervous’ as the royal returned to Wimbledon for the first time since beating cancer.
Little Lydia Lowe gave Kate, 43, the heart-warming advice after overcoming her own health battle following a brain injury last year. It was the most high-profile public appearance for Kate this year and follows worries for her health after she pulled out of Ascot last month.
She dazzled for the ladies’ singles final in a cream belted jacket, adorned with a Wimbledon bow, and matching skirt, (€1,100) Anya Hindmarch tote bag.
Catherine, Princess of Wales with AELTC chair Debbie Jevans as she arrives to attend the Ladies' Singles Final during day thirteen of Wimbledon. Pic: Getty Images
Kate was diagnosed with cancer in January last year and retreated from public life before confirming she was in remission 12 months later.
Ahead of the match between Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek, she performed a meet-and-greet with volunteers, players and staff.
She struck up conversation with Lydia, who performed the coin toss for the ladies’ wheelchair singles final, by asking her: ‘Have you got any advice for me, because I’ve got to do the prize-giving?’
The Princess of Wales meets Lydia Lowe, eight, from the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, 2025 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London. Picture date: Saturday July 12, 2025. PA Photo. Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire.
The eight-year-old replied: ‘Don’t be nervous. Take deep breaths.’ Kate lit up and replied: ‘Take deep breaths? OK, I’ll remember that. Thank you.’
To a standing ovation and loud cheers, Kate took her seat in the Royal Box beside Wimbledon legend Billie Jean King, who curtsied and shook her hand. Maya Jama, Katherine Jenkins and Cara Delevingne were among the glamorous celebrities in the
crowd.
At one point, Delevingne, 32, shared a smooch with her girlfriend Minke, real name Leah Mason. Elsewhere, Ant McPartlin
was all smiles with wife Anne-Marie Corbett, and singer Pixie Lott appeared in a white netted dress with a pineapple motif.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Just a few hours after meeting Lydia, Kate was seen dispensing her own words of comfort to Anisimova, 23, after she was thrashed
6-0 6-0. Kate told the American to ‘keep your head high’ and that she should ‘be so proud’ after she broke down on Centre Court on losing to Poland’s Swiatek, 24.
It was all the more painful given Anisimova had battled her way back to the top of tennis after mental health struggles forced her to take a nine-month break two years ago.
The Ladies’ Singles Runners Up Trophy toAmanda Anisimova of United States following the Ladies' Singles Final against Iga Swiatek of Poland (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Kate’s kind words had echoes of the Duchess of Kent, who famously embraced Jana Novotna after she lost in spectacular style
to Steffi Graf in the 1993 final.
The crowd repeatedly tried to rally Anisimova, but to no avail as the world No 12 appeared broken within minutes of the match starting. She was defeated in just 57 minutes. It was the first time a Wimbledon finalist had failed to win a single game since 1911.
She struggled to choke down tears in a post-match interview, telling loved ones: ‘I wish that I could [have] put on a better performance for all of you.’ She hinted her mother had broken a family superstition, telling her: ‘Thank you for being here and
breaking the superstition of flying in – it’s definitely not why I lost. ’
World No. 4 Swiatek hugged Friends star Courteney Cox after the match and told her opponent, ‘No matter what happened today,
you should be proud.’
