Middleton Invited Honorary Membership in All England Club

Written by: Staff on 29th January 2013

Middleton Invited Honorary Membership in All England Club

epa03060141 Shadow of Andy Murray of Great Britain in action during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 15 January 2012. The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, will begin on 16 January. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

Although the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, is expecting a royal baby in July and seems unlikely to attend this summer’s Wimbledon Championships, she has accepted honorary membership of the All England Club.

An official spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: The Duchess was pleased to accept the kind offer, particularly given her interest in tennis.”

The Duchess is a keen player and is already a member of the rival Queen’s Club in West London, where the annual Aegon Championships are played a fortnight before Wimbledon.

In recent years the Duchess has become a familiar sight in the Royal Box on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, often together with her husband Prince William. She also sat next to her sister Pippa to watch the Andy Murray beat Roger Federer to win Olympic gold last August.

Many All England Club members believe the Duchess will be invited to succeed the 77 year-old Duke of Kent as club president when he decides to stand down.

Andy Roddick, who retired at last year’s US Open and has been beaten in three Wimbledon finals, has also been awarded honorary membership, usually an honor bestowed upon actual champions.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: AEGON Championships, Andy Roddick, Kate Middleton, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, wilbledon