Fears of Putin propaganda coup at Wimbledon: Princess of Wales will hand out prestigious trophy to both men’s and women’s singles champions – photo opportunity set up with Russian and Belarusian players as war rages on in Ukraine
The Princess of Wales is ready to award the Russian tennis champions Wimbledon this summer amid Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Continuing its tradition of presenting singles trophies as patron of the All England Club, sources say it will hand out silverware to any winner, regardless of their nationality.
This comes at a time when the organizers are expected to lift the ban on players from Russia and Belarus entering the tournament.
Under the new rules, players from both countries will be allowed to play as neutral opponents without saying where they come from.
According to palace sources, the Princess sees this as a matter for Wimbledon and will award the cup to those who are allowed to have it.
Sources say, as in previous years (Princess of Wales photo in 2022 with Novak Djokovic) Kate will present the trophy – including to Russian and Belarusian players
The Princess of Wales (left) pictured with her eldest son, Prince George, at Wimbledon in July 2022
“Everyone knows I’m still a Belarusian,” said world number two Aryna Sabalenka, the world number two at Wimbledon – who’s from Belarus – after winning the Australian Open.
This raised concerns among some club officials that, as a prominent member of the royal family, photographs of the princess congratulating a winner from Russia or Belarus could be used for publicity.
It is understood that this year Kate will attend the women’s singles final on July 15 and the men’s singles final the next day.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus is the bookmaker’s third favorite, after becoming tennis’ first neutral Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open in January.
Speaking after this victory, Sabalenka said: “I think everyone still knows that I am a Belarusian player, and that’s it.”
