William and Kate in Wimbledon royal box
Britain's Prince William, right, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge watch Roger Federer of Switzerland play Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during a quarterfinals match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Wednesday July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
LONDON—Prince William and his wife Catherine took their places in the Royal Box on Wimbledon Center Court on Wednesday to watch six-time champion Roger Federer play in his quarter-final against Mikhail Youzhny.
The royal couple received a rapturous welcome from the crowd as they arrived in the front row of the box, having already proved a hit around the All England Club.
“My life is complete!” tweeted German women’s player Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
“I don’t care that we won the Mixed! Prince William said hi to me! I was so excited I won my service game!????”
Also in the Royal Box were Australian legend Rod Laver, 50 years after he completed the Grand Slam, as well as golden couple Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf, both former Wimbledon champions.
England football manager Roy Hodgson, whose side crashed out of Euro 2012 in the quarter-finals against Italy last month, was also in the box watching the men’s action with his wife Sheila.
On Tuesday, Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of the Duchess of Cambridge, had been treated to seats in the Royal Box on Center Court.
It was a move up for Carole Middleton, who was in the regular seats on Center Court when she visited the All England Club last Wednesday.
But when Catherine’s siblings James and Pippa attended on Thursday, they were treated to the best seats in the house.
Last week, William’s father Prince Charles visited the tournament for the first time since 1970. He was joined by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
