Wimbledon’s back-up plan revealed if Princess of Wales cannot attend finals presentation

The Duchess of Gloucester has been earmarked as a likely candidate to present the Wimbledon trophies this weekend if the Princess of Wales is unavailable, as she continues her recovery from cancer treatment.

All England Club Chair Debbie Jevans told Telegraph Sport in the build-up to the Championships they would give the Princess “as much flexibility as possible” in determining whether she is able to fulfil her ceremonial duties as Club Patron on finals weekend, including leaving a decision until the morning of the women’s final on Saturday.

The Princess has made just one public appearance this year at Trooping the Colour following her revelation in March that she is being treated for cancer. Kensington Palace is not confirming any potential engagements for the Princess while she continues a course of preventive chemotherapy, and her attendance at Trooping the Colour on June 15 was only announced the day before.

While Jevans said a fortnight ago that she was “hopeful” the Princess would be able to attend, given the uncertainty Wimbledon have had little option but to put contingency plans in place. The All England Club has a strong relationship with the Royal family, with 10 royals having presented the trophies since Prince George (later King George V) became the club’s first president in 1907, and it is understood that during informal discussions the Duchess of Gloucester has emerged as a potential replacement.

A Wimbledon spokesperson told Telegraph Sport that a decision had yet to be made, and the presentation party would be confirmed on the morning of each final.

The Danish-born Duchess, who was Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen before marrying Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester in 1972, is a huge tennis fan and would enable Wimbledon to maintain their royal tradition. The 78-year-old has been an Honorary President of the Lawn Tennis Association for 25 years and attended Wimbledon as a guest of the All England Club last week.

In another complication for Wimbledon, the Prince of Wales is likely to be in Berlin next Sunday for the final of Euro 2024. Prince William was photographed celebrating England’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland in Düsseldorf on Saturday with gusto, and may even attend the final if Gareth Southgate’s side are beaten by Netherlands in Wednesday’s semi-final given his own role as president of the FA.

The Princess of Wales has been patron of the All England Club for eight years, and since 2016 has presented the trophies, moments of global significance that are hugely valued by Wimbledon. Indeed, such is the symbolic importance of the trophy presentation that the potential optics of the Princess handing over a trophy to a Russian player – and the propaganda boost it would give to Vladimir Putin – was one of the reasons cited for the All England Club’s controversial decision to ban Russians from the Championship following the invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

The All England Club no longer has a president after the Duke of Kent stepped down three years ago, with the Duchess of Cambridge taking the role of patron from Queen Elizabeth II, who served as patron from 1952 to 2016 and presented the trophies on several occasions.

Wimbledon are waiting for an update on the Princess’ health later this week before finalising its plans.

“We’re hopeful that the Princess of Wales will be able to present the trophies as the Club’s patron, but her health and recovery is the priority,” Jevans said a fortnight ago. “We don’t know what we don’t know. All we’ve said is that we’ll work with her and give her as much flexibility as possible.

“I don’t know who would present the trophies as an alternative – that’s something to consider nearer the time if necessary. We’re staying flexible. When we hear we’ll then think about what’s the right thing to do.”