When Princess Kate arrived at the Wimbledon ladies’ singles final in a flawless cream ensemble, she was every inch the poised royal. Her appearance was met with thunderous applause as she took her seat in the royal box, but it was a quiet backstage moment with a young girl that truly captured hearts.

Before stepping onto Centre Court to take part in the trophy presentation, the Princess of Wales paused to speak with eight-year-old Lydia Lowe, who had just performed the ceremonial coin toss for the Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles Final. Lydia, from Doncaster, Yorkshire, wasn’t just representing the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust that afternoon — she was also sharing hard-won wisdom with a future queen.

Lydia suffered a brain injury in 2024 that left her needing to relearn how to walk, speak, and eat. Despite such a challenging recovery, she found her way back onto the tennis court, encouraged by doctors who suggested she return to the activities she loved before her injury. Her return to tennis not only rekindled her joy, but also helped her regain strength and control — especially in her left hand, which she used instinctively to grip her racket.

As Kate prepared to take to the court for the prize-giving, she leaned in and asked Lydia, “Have you got any advice for me because I’ve got to go out and do the prize-giving?”

Without hesitation, the young tennis fan offered her royal guest a tip: “Don’t be nervous, take deep breaths.”

Kate smiled warmly and replied, “Take deep breaths. I’ll remember that. Thank you.”

The sweet exchange quickly became one of the standout moments of the day, adding a tender human note to the grandeur of the tournament.

Lydia’s story has already inspired many. Last year, she raised an incredible £20,000 through a campaign dubbed “The Six LOVE Challenge for Lydia Lowe,” further showing her determination to give back to the community that supported her.

In addition to Lydia, Kate also met 12-year-old Sophie Kneen, who conducted the coin toss for the ladies’ singles final later in the day. The Princess spent time with Wimbledon’s longest-serving steward, Bob Flint — who has worked at the championships for 45 years — and greeted Ladies’ Wheelchair Singles champion Wang Ziying and her coach Ralph Yin.

Since becoming Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016, a role passed on from the Duke of Kent, Kate has made frequent appearances at Wimbledon. For the final, she wore the iconic purple and green bow brooch, a symbol of the club, which was personally given to her by the late Queen Elizabeth.

Attending the event solo this year — unlike last year when she brought along her daughter Princess Charlotte and sister Pippa Matthews to the gentlemen’s final — Kate’s appearance marked her first solo public outing since she missed Royal Ascot.

While the championship may have crowned new winners on the court, the quiet strength of a little girl from Yorkshire — and her brief moment with a future queen — stole the show.