Kate Middleton and her family are mourning the loss of a dear family friend, Tony Henman, father of former British tennis star Tim Henman. According MirrorTony Henman passed away on Friday at the age of 84.
The Middleton family, particularly Kate’s parents Carole and Michael, were said to be close to Tony Henman and his wife Jane. The Henmans were guests at Prince William and Kate’s wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011 and had developed a strong friendship with the Middletons over the years.
He told Sue how his father tried to play it cool in front of former British number one tennis player, Tim. Kate explained: “My dad’s not going to like this, but we were walking past Tim Henman and we’d just seen (Pete) Sampras play. My dad said very calmly, ‘Hi Pete.’ He was mortified!
The two couples were often seen together at Wimbledon, as the Middletons are known for their love of tennis. Tim Henman, former British number one and four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, was often seen sitting with Kate during his visits to the All-England club.
Kate, along with her sister Pippa and parents, have long been avid tennis fans and regular Wimbledon attendees. Her strong bond with the Henmans was evident and the families often spent time together at the tournament.
In a 2017 BBC documentary titled Our WimbledonIn , hosted by Sue Barker, Kate shared an embarrassing moment involving her father Michael at a tennis tournament. She admitted to feeling “mortified” after her father’s confusion, although she did not elaborate.
News of Tony Henman’s death comes shortly after Prince William, who holds the title Duke of Cornwall, took a trip to Fistral Beach. This came after his estranged brother, Prince Harry, made an appearance at St. Paul’s Cathedral for their Invictus Games.
The Middleton family’s friendship with the Henmans highlights the close relationships Kate and her family have. Tony Henman’s passing is a significant loss for the Middletons, who are mourning the passing of a dear family friend.