In a scene straight out of a modern fairy tale, the hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon played host to one of the sweetest royal moments of the year. Nine-year-old Princess Charlotte, making only her second-ever appearance at the Championships, stole hearts when she met Britain’s tennis sensation Emma Raducanu after the 2021 US Open champion’s second-round victory on Centre Court.
Dressed in a pretty navy dress with white polka dots and wearing her hair in two neat braids tied with blue ribbons, Charlotte looked every inch the young princess—wide-eyed, polite, and utterly delighted to be there. Accompanied by her mother, the Princess of Wales, the young royal was introduced to Raducanu in the players’ area shortly after the British star’s straight-sets win over Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
The moment was pure magic. Charlotte, clutching a Wimbledon towel as a souvenir, beamed as Raducanu crouched down to her level for a chat. The 22-year-old tennis star, clearly charmed, later revealed that the little princess had asked her the most endearing question: “Are you going to win?”
Raducanu, still flushed from her on-court triumph, laughed and replied, “I’m going to try my best!” She later described the exchange as “really cute,” adding that meeting Princess Charlotte had been “a really special moment” for her.
Watching the interaction unfold with a proud and tender smile was Catherine, herself a passionate tennis player and patron of the All England Club. The Princess of Wales, elegant in a purple Safiyaa dress (a nod to the iconic Wimbledon colour), gently encouraged her daughter throughout the encounter, occasionally leaning down to whisper guidance or share in Charlotte’s excitement. It was a beautiful reminder of Catherine’s hands-on, warm style of parenting even under the glare of the world’s cameras.
For royal watchers, seeing Charlotte at Wimbledon felt significant. This was only her second visit—the first being in 2023 when she accompanied Prince George—and her growing confidence in the spotlight was unmistakable. While big brother George has long been a fixture at the Championships alongside their parents, Charlotte’s appearances remain rare and therefore all the more precious.
Emma Raducanu, who has spoken openly about the pressures of fame since her meteoric rise four years ago, seemed genuinely moved by the encounter. “It was really cool to meet her,” she told reporters afterwards. “She’s so sweet.”
As the trio posed for photographs—Charlotte shyly clutching her towel, Raducanu still in her on-court kit, and Catherine radiating quiet joy—the image instantly went viral. Social media lit up with comments about the “pure serotonin” of the moment, with many declaring it the undisputed highlight of Day Five.
In an era when royal outings can sometimes feel formal or staged, this was different: three generations of British women, connected by a love of tennis and a shared moment of unscripted warmth on one of the most famous patches of grass in the world.
If this is what Wimbledon royalty looks like in 2025, then long may the magic continue.
