Although Prince Louis has yet to attend Wimbledon like his older siblings, the young royal already shares a meaningful bond with the historic tennis tournament—thanks to a thoughtful gesture from tennis legend Stan Smith.
A Special Gift from a Tennis Icon
In July 2019, when Louis was just over a year old, his mother, Kate Middleton, attended the Men’s Singles Final at Wimbledon as a guest in the Royal Box.
During the event, Stan Smith—1972 Wimbledon champion and the man behind the iconic Adidas Stan Smith trainers—presented Kate with a unique gift for her youngest child.
Smith gave Prince Louis a miniature pair of his signature shoes, complete with a handwritten note. The tiny trainers, inscribed with “To Louis from Stan Smith,” were considered a priceless keepsake by those close to the royal family.
A Royal Family Favorite
In a 2021 interview with GQ, Smith recalled the moment: “I saw photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing the shoe, and I once had the chance to chat to her at Wimbledon. I actually gave some shoes to the Duke and Duchess for George, Charlotte, and Louis.”
He also confirmed that Louis’s cousin, Prince Archie, received a pair as well—and he even received a thank-you note from the Sussexes. “And interestingly, I’ve always heard that [Queen Elizabeth] has to approve all gifts. So that makes it royally approved by Her Majesty,” he added with a smile.
Louis’s Budding Love for Tennis
Though Louis hasn’t yet made an official appearance at Wimbledon, his interest in the sport is already showing. In 2023, Kate revealed that her youngest son likes to mimic the Wimbledon ball boys while playing in the garden.
“He’s already very into it,” she noted.
As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Kate is a familiar face at the tournament. She’s also been intentional about encouraging her children to take up tennis.
“George is playing. They’re all playing. Even Louis,” she said in 2022. “They’re all keen.”
Royal Appearances Courtside
Prince George and Princess Charlotte have both attended Wimbledon alongside their parents in recent years. George made his debut in 2022, watching the Men’s Final with Kate—a proud milestone in his royal upbringing.
At seven years old, and with his lively personality already well-loved by the public, Prince Louis seems poised to charm the Wimbledon crowd whenever he makes his first appearance.
Will Kate Return to Wimbledon This Year?
As the summer tournament approaches, royal watchers are eager to see if Princess Kate will return to Wimbledon once again.
After stepping back from royal duties due to her cancer diagnosis and undergoing chemotherapy, Kate made a rare public appearance at Wimbledon last year, earning a warm standing ovation from the crowd. Though she missed Royal Ascot this year, fans remain hopeful she’ll make another surprise appearance at SW19.
