Kate drops by Wimbledon to show her support for British players

The Princess of Wales has made her first visit to the Wimbledon championships this year – and watched British number one Katie Boulter in action.

Wearing a mint green blazer and white pleated skirt, the royal was seen greeting young children as she walked from the Media Centre to Court 18.

Kate, who is the patron of the Lawn Tennis Association, sat with former British players Laura Robson and Deborah Jevans while watching Boulter play Australian Daria Saville.

But shortly after her arrival, rain suspended play.

The princess could be seen smiling while sheltering under an iconic purple and green Wimbledon umbrella.

Eight other British players will be taking to the courts on Tuesday but the forecast for the afternoon looks quite damp.

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Spectators on Centre Court will see Roger Federer celebrated before the battle of the Brits begins between Andy Murray and Ryan Peniston.

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On Court One, Cameron Norrie will face Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic.

British colleagues Heather Watson, George Loffhagen, Arthur Fery and Sonay Kartal will also play while Dan Evans continues his match after it was suspended on Monday.

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Wimbledon saw the highest attendance on day one of the tournament since 2015, organisers said.

According to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), 42,815 people attended the championships on Monday, which means there were over 6,000 more spectators than last year when 36,603 people visited.

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Michelle Dite, operations director for AELTC, told reporters that 11,500 people gained entry to the grounds via the queue alone on Monday.

On Tuesday morning, fans in the queue were optimistic about their chances of watching the second day of the tournament after hold-ups at security frustrated spectators on Monday.

On day one, some spectators who had visited Wimbledon in previous years said the queue was the “worst” they had seen.

Organisers said extra checks – put in place over concerns about protests – were to blame for the slow queue.

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The club’s chief executive, Sally Bolton, told reporters on Monday that security arrangements had been boosted after climate change group Just Stop Oil (JSO) disrupted the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, the Gallagher Premiership rugby final at Twickenham and the World Snooker Championship.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman will hold talks on Wednesday with senior sporting figures and police leaders on protecting Wimbledon and other events this summer from disruptive protests.

Event organisers and national sporting bodies will meet Ms Braverman and Sports Secretary Lucy Frazer to discuss the JSO and Animal Rising groups.

Ms Bolton told journalists that security measures included a “100% bag search” and “selective body search” at all gates – the latter of which will be conducted “on the basis of intelligence”.

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