Why people might’ve thought Kate Middleton was crying in these pictures taken during special royal appearance
Some fans could have thought they saw Kate Middleton crying in pictures taken on the emotional penultimate day of Wimbledon 2023


Some people might’ve thought Kate Middleton was crying in these pictures taken during a special royal appearance in recent days.
- The Princess of Wales seemed to be visibly moved as she attended the Women’s Singles Final at Wimbledon this year.
- In some photos, it looks as though Kate Middleton could have been wiping away tears before later comforting runner-up Ons Jabeur.
- This royal news comes as we revealed Prince George's “close-knit” support that Kate Middleton and Prince William are keen for him to have at Eton.
More than ever in recent years the Princess of Wales has been embracing a personal approach when it comes to royal appearances. She’s not afraid to show delight or sympathy and has often been pictured hugging fans. Perhaps unsurprisingly fans were also treated to some displays of emotion from the royal when it came to Wimbledon 2023. The Princess of Wales, who is known for her love of tennis, attended three times, including when she watched the Women’s Singles Final from the Wimbledon Royal Box.
Alongside pictures of her beaming at the brilliant tennis, there were a few other photos which might have got some people worried Kate Middleton was crying, as the epic highs and lows of the match played out on court.
The stakes were high for both finalists as Ons Jabeur was the 2022 runner-up and was battling to become the first African woman to win a Grand Slam title. Whilst Markéta Vondroušová was playing to become the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title - which she eventually did.
The conclusion of the match was incredibly emotional and the future Queen Consort was photographed seemingly dabbing her eyes at one point. No tears were clearly visible on her face in the pictures, but it looks as though Princess of Wales could potentially have been gently wiping away tears from the corner of her eyes.
Although as a tennis fan she likely admired Markéta’s performance, it’s possible her empathetic nature meant Ons’ disappointment moved her too. Regardless of whether Kate Middleton was crying, she certainly did all she could to comfort Ons when she presented the trophies.
She was seen embracing the Wimbledon 2023 runner-up and talking kindly to her, whilst the tennis star looked visibly upset. Speaking during her on-court interview after losing the match, Ons described her loss as “very, very tough”.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
“I will try to speak because this is very, very tough, but.. err… I’m going to look ugly in the photos, so that’s not going to help. I think this is the most painful loss of my career,” she said.
“I want to say congratulations to Markéta and her team for this amazing tournament. You’re an amazing player," she continued.
Although it was a “tough day” for Ons, she reflected that she was in no way going to give up, declaring, “I will come back stronger and win a Grand Slam one day.”
As per the Daily Mail, Ons was reportedly asked afterwards what the Princess of Wales had said when she was consoling her. According to the tennis star, the senior royal apparently encouraged her “to be strong, to come back and win a Grand Slam, win Wimbledon”.
Ons also revealed that Kate had supposedly been unsure whether to hug her, but the player had told her, “Hugs are always welcome from me”.
“That was a very nice moment and she's always nice to me,” Ons added.
Whether or not Kate Middleton was crying at Wimbledon, her uplifting words certainly seem to have meant a lot to Ons Jabeur.
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. She specialises in the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the latest royal outing or unmissable show to add to your to-watch list, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
Considering a summer hair refresh? Demi Moore’s chic bob transformation is all the inspiration you need to book that salon appointment
Chop, chop, it's time to take a trip to the salon
By Sennen Prickett
-
Helen Mirren just embraced Cartier's signature colour on her lips - and this easy trick will make it less intimidating to replicate
When in doubt, do as Helen Mirren does and steer clear of matte formulas...
By Naomi Jamieson
-
I’ve been writing about the royals for years - here’s what I predict Kate Middleton will wear at Easter (and what I wish she’d wear instead)
All eyes will be on the Princess of Wales if she attends the Royal Family's Easter Sunday church service for the first time since 2023
By Emma Shacklock
-
Remember when Prince William and Kate Middleton broke royal protocol at Easter? Here's why it's unlikely to happen again
The Royal Family might be taking a more modern approach these days, but there are some traditions and protocols that they still uphold.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton's go-to bag for special occasions is a wedding season essential you'll reach for time and time again
The Princess of Wales always reaches for the same elegant style of bag for formal events and it works beautifully for weddings.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton declares baker boy hats back for 2025 in new Love Actually-esque outfit
The Princess of Wales's signature style is all about timelessness but that doesn’t mean that she never gets on board with trends.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Prince George will start a new school this year and 'smart money' is on Kate and William choosing this one, says royal expert
Prince George only has just over a year left at Lambrook School and Emily Andrews believes there's a top contender for his next one.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Queen Camilla takes note of Kate Middleton's love of polka dots with charming collared number in Rome
If we had to pick the Princess of Wales’s favourite print it would be polka dots and Queen Camilla just emulated her style in Rome.
By Emma Shacklock
-
James Middleton says he 'had three mothers growing up' as he opens up on close-knit family bond
The Princess of Wales’s brother had several 'mothering figures' during his childhood and was 'fortunate' to have this tightknit support system.
By Emma Shacklock
-
What earrings does Kate Middleton wear? The affordable brands she loves and where to buy her pieces
The Princess of Wales gravitates towards certain brands for her everyday earrings and many of them are still available right now.
By Emma Shacklock