The Princess of Wales has suggested that her youngest son, Prince Louis, is showing interest in becoming a ball boy at Wimbledon. The revelation came during the ladies' singles final on Saturday, July 11, where Kate presented the Venus Rosewater Dish to winner Linda Noskova.
Kate's conversation with Wimbledon staff
While at the All England Club, Kate spoke with Jenna Fontanilla, an 18-year-old member of Wimbledon's court services team from Sutton, south London. During their chat, Kate mentioned that eight-year-old Prince Louis has been asking questions about the role of ball boys and ball girls, indicating he might want to try it himself.
Jenna said: "She told me about how Louis was asking her about how to become a ball boy, and we were talking about how much hard work it is to be on court and how we work alongside the ball kids, and it's just so lovely."
Kate's genuine nature praised
Jenna described Kate as "so genuine" and said she put her at ease. "It felt so easy. I thought I was going to be really nervous, but she made it so easy. The conversation was very natural," Jenna added.
Recalling the moment they met, Jenna said: "Looking at her through the doors, it was just 'oh my gosh, she's here' and then I overheard her with the other conversations, it just felt so natural, and it put peace over me. And then when she was right there, reaching out to shaking my hand, I was like 'oh my gosh, which hand, which hand?' and then I got there, and she was just, oh, that smile. It just brings you back, and she's so genuine."
Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative
Jenna also shared her own path to Wimbledon, crediting the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI). "They provide free tennis to a handful of schools around Merton and I was one of the lucky few that got picked when I was four years old," she explained. "The WJTI came to my junior school, saw us run around and picked out who had the most enthusiasm and the most grit and the most potential in tennis. And throughout the years, I've been attending more and more tennis sessions, getting more into the sport. And before you know it, they give me such opportunities, such as being part of the court services team, working at the championships, and, as you saw now, meeting the princess."
