Charlotte appears star-struck and hides behind Kate as she meets Wimbledon champ

17 July 2023 , 09:57

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Charlotte appeared shy as she met the new Wimbledon champion (Image: BBC)

She punched the air in delight when Carlos Alcaraz hit the winning shot to net his first-ever Wimbledon title.

And a shy Princess Charlotte later appeared star-struck as she met her new tennis hero just moments after her mum, the Princess of Wales, presented him with his winner's trophy after his emphatic victory over Novak Djokovic.

Eight-year-old Charlotte was on her first visit to Wimbledon for the tense match alongside mum Kate, brother Prince George and dad Prince William. During the epic battle, it appeared that the young princess had been rooting for the Spaniard, who wrapped up a five-set victory.

Charlotte appeared shy as she met the new Wimbledon champion (BBC)

After the trophy presentation on Centre Court, Alcaraz walked proudly through the member's area of the All England Club, where he was congratulated by King Felipe of Spain and also shook hands with George, William as well as Charlotte.

The youngster seemed over-awed to meet the new Wimbledon champion and at one point even dashed behind mum Kate's back as others around them congratulated the 20-year-old. The Wales family arrived at SW19 around noon for Charlotte’s first-ever visit to the tournament. George visited for the first time last year with his mum and dad.

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Charlotte and George celebrate as Alcaraz wins the title (WireImage)

Charlotte held Kate’s hand and walked ahead of George and William to reach the Players’ Lawn and greeted Wimbledon staff, police dog Stella and British wheelchair doubles champion Gordon Reid. In the Player’s Lawn, Kate told Ella Ottaway, who runs the All England Club’s young people programme, that Prince Louis was "very upset" that he was not attending with his brother and sister.

The princess said: "It's Charlotte’s first time, George came last year. They’ve been eagerly watching. Charlotte, you’ve been getting to grips with the scoring.

"Louis was very upset he wasn’t coming today." The princess also told 16-year-old ball boy Joel that Louis has been practising being a ball boy. After their conversation, Joel revealed: "He (Louis) tries to practise the standing and staying serious, like us. He tries to practise the stands and how we stand at the back of the court and next to the players."

Charlotte watched the epic match with mum Kate (WireImage)

Charlotte petted Stella the springer spaniel, who searched Centre Court on Sunday morning on her last day at Wimbledon before retiring. The young princess was also introduced to eight-year-old Mu’awwiz Anwar who is representing the charity WaterAid and who performed the coin toss at the match.

Sunday marked Kate’s third visit to Wimbledon – this time wearing a green dress by Roland Mouret – over the course of this year’s tournament. The princess attended on Saturday and consoled a tearful Ons Jabeur after the Tunisian lost the ladies’ singles final against Czech player Marketa Vondrousova.

Jennifer Newton