Wimbledon: Princess Kate takes place next to Roger Federer

WIMBLEDON, England –

Kate, the Princess of Wales, had the best seat in the house on Center Court at Wimbledon on Tuesday — in the front row of the Royal Box and right next to Roger Federer.

Dressed in a mint green blazer, the Queen-to-be made her way to her seat just before Federer was celebrated ahead of the opening match on Day 2 of the grass court tournament.

Federer, an eight-time champion at the All England Club, was caught between the princess and his wife Mirka.

The first match on a wet second day of Wimbledon – with the sunroof closed – was Elena Rybakina against American opponent Shelby Rogers. As is tradition in the most traditional of all tennis tournaments, Rybakina opened play on Tuesday as the defending champion in the women’s tournament.

Kate has been a regular visitor to Wimbledon since she married Prince William, and even sister-in-law Meghan Markle in the past. The late Queen Elizabeth II, William’s grandmother, made only a handful of trips to the All England Club during her 70-year reign. Her last appearance at the Royal Box was in 2010.

King Charles III has sometimes taken a seat in the Royal Box, but not since he took over as monarch from his mother. Elizabeth died last September and Charles was crowned in May.

Rybakina won that opening match 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray then defeated Ryan Peniston 6-3, 6-0, 6-1. In 2013, Murray won the first of his two Wimbledon titles, ending a 77-year wait for a British men’s champion at the All England Club.

His second Wimbledon title came in 2016, and he also won the Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games on the same Center Court turf – beating Federer in the final.

Federer, who turns 42 on August 8, announced his retirement from tennis late last year after a series of knee surgeries.

In addition to Princess Kate and the Federers, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was also in the Royal Box, behind the trio.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian charity worker who was imprisoned in Tehran for nearly six years. She was released last year.

“I saw her very shortly after the game,” said Murray. “I spoke to her a while ago. Yes, it was very emotional talking to her and hearing her story… it was brilliant that she could come and watch. It was her first time here. Glad she could be there .”