A jazz singer who sat next to Princess Kate at Wimbledon has revealed the three words that best describe the future Queen. While the Princess of Wales has not yet attended this year’s championships, she could still do so, given her role as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
The princess, who often presents trophies in the tournament’s finals, was seated near jazz singer Natalie Rushdie in the Royal Box during Wimbledon 2023.
Reflecting on the moment she first met Kate, at a pre-tournament lunch for Royal Box guests, Ms Rushdie told Hello! Magazine: “The whole room went silent when she came in. She’s just so beautiful in real life… Calm, just so refined. She came in, she said hello to everyone.”
Ms Rushdie also spoke to Kate about her charity song, released that year in honour of the late Dame Deborah James.
“I was so nervous,” she recounted. “I’m never nervous meeting anyone, but she’s really so beautiful in real life. I went over to her and just thanked her and William for her support.”
The singer added: “There’s very much a star quality about her. There’s a sparkle when she enters the room. Everyone genuinely is in awe of her.”
The Royal Box is reserved for friends and guests of Wimbledon, according to the tournament’s official website.
This includes “British and overseas royal families, heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British Armed Forces, prominent media organisations, supporters of tennis and other walks of life”.
While the Princess of Wales has yet to appear in the box, which sits on the south end of Centre Court, this year, a number of other famous faces have already been in attendance.
Former England football captain Sir David Beckham, former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry and former Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly were just a few of the celebrities spotted taking in the first day of matches.