A year after the Queen made a rare visit to the All England Club, Prince William and his wife Kate were among the crowd at Wimbledon on Monday.
The royal couple watched from the front row of the Royal Box on Centre Court as Andy Murray beat Richard Gasquet to reach the quarterfinals.
They met the British player afterward.
“If I’d known they were coming, I would have shaved,” Murray said, smiling. “I was thinking to myself as I came off I was sweaty and very hairy. I said to them, ‘I’m sorry, I’m a bit sweaty.’”
At least Murray had a well-practiced bow ready. Last year, he was watched by the Queen on her first visit to the tournament in 33 years and bowed low with one arm bent behind his back and one in front.
The players weren’t obliged to bow for William and Kate, but after shaking hands with Gasquet, Murray waved to three sides of the Centre Court crowd before turning to the Royal Box and repeating his very proper bow as the couple stood and applauded.
Murray said it was “very nice” to meet the couple, who he said told him - “Well done on the match. Asked me how it was out there. That was it. Wasn’t a long conversation.”
