The Duchess of Cambridge will take over as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), it has been confirmed.
Queen Elizabeth II has been patron of the ALETC since 1952, but it was announced today, Tuesday, December 20, that she is stepping down from 25 patronages including the Wimbledon tennis club.
The Queen is currently the patron of 628 charities and organisations, but is now making plans to share the work out with other members of the royal family following her 90th birthday.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is a known tennis fan and a regular spectator in the Royal Box during the summer tournaments.
Chairman of the AELTC and The Championships, Philip Brook, said: “We would like to thank Her Majesty for her long and unwavering service to the club and the championships during her time as our patron.
“It was a great honour to welcome Her Majesty to Wimbledon in 2010, and we remain immensely proud of her role in the history of the club and the championships.
“We would like to welcome Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge, who will take up the Queen’s former duties as our patron, and also recognise with appreciation the ongoing contribution of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent [Prince Edward], who will continue his long standing role as our president.”
During her most recent visit to the club in 2010, the Queen met with tennis players including Andy Murray, Venus and Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
She also met with ball boys and girls, officials and members of AELTC’s community tennis programme, the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative.
And during a 1977 visit, the Queen watched Virginia Wade play her way to victory in the Ladies' Singles.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “At the end of the Queen’s 90th birthday year, Her Majesty will step down as patron from a number of national organisations. The patronages will be passed on to other members of the royal family in the coming months.
“Her Majesty is currently patron of more than 600 organisations and has enjoyed a close and active association with a great number of them throughout her reign.
“Her Majesty will continue to serve as patron to hundreds of charities and institutions but will now share this work with her family.”
Got a story? Contact the newdesk on pippa.allen@newsquest.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here