Kate Middleton attends Wimbledon on July 4, 2023.Photo:Karwai Tang/WireImage

Catherine, Princess of Wales court side on day two of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Kate Middletononce missed an important Wimbledon match against her wishes!

The Princess of Wales, 41, is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and has attended the prestigious British tournament almost every year since marryingPrince Williamin 2011. Princess Kate made her 2023Wimbledon debuton July 4, inspiring a look back at why she wasn’t allowed to go a decade ago.

In the 2017 BBC documentaryOur Wimbledon, tennis fan (and player!) Kate spoke about how her doctors advised her against attending in 2013 because she was just a few weeks away from giving birth toPrince George, who will turn 10 on July 22. The men’s singles final was a highlight at the Grand Slam championship that year as Andy Murray vied to make history as the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. (Murray achieved the dream and simultaneously secured his second Grand Slam.)

“I was very heavily pregnant with George, so I wasn’t able to turn up,” Kate told documentary host Sue Barker, theDaily Mirrorreported. “But you had a great excuse!” Barker said — but Kate disagreed!

“I know, but even still. I was sort of, ‘Maybe I could go,' but the doctors were like, ‘No.’ I wrote to [Murray] afterward saying sorry for not being there but huge congratulations,” the royal replied.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend Wimbledon in 2016.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the Men’s Final of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Three years later, Kate and William got to see Murray repeat the victory when they attended Wimbledon in 2016, and the tennis star won his third Grand Slam. Though the royal couple is always poised in public, Kate couldn’t hide her excitement as she cheered in the royal box.

Kate Middleton and Roger Federer attend Wimbledon on July 4.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Catherine, Princess of Wales and Roger Federer court side on day two of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships

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Prince George (who turns 10 on July 22) just might make another appearance at Wimbledon this year. Princess Kate typically kicks off her visits to the elite tournament with early-round games featuring up-and-coming talent, as she did on July 4, and she will likely return for the finals this weekend.

Kate Middleton, Prince George and Prince William attend Wimbledon in July 2022.Karwai Tang/WireImage

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend The Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 10, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

source: people.com