The family of Kate Middleton are currently mourning the loss of a close family friend, Tony Henman, who has reportedly died.
The Princess of Wales’ parents Carole and Michael Middleton were said to be close to Tony, who was the father of tennis legend Tim Henman. According to reports, Tony died on Friday at the age of 84, the Daily Mail reports. According to the publication, Tony and his wife Jane gave Carole and Michael advice on how to cope with the high levels of publicity they faced given Kate’s role as a senior member of the Royal Family and over the years, the two couples were pictured at Wimbledon together.
The publication also claims Carole and Jane became tennis partners when playing doubles, with Jane and Tony also attending the Prince and Princess of Wales’ wedding back in April 2011. Like her parents, 42 year old Kate is known for being a big fan of tennis and is the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC).
Over the years she has been spotted attending the event, often with her family. During a 2017 BBC documentary called Our Wimbledon, which was presented by sports host Sue Barker, the royal revealed how her dad Michael tried his best to act cool in front of Tim, who is a former British number one.
“My father is not going to appreciate this, but we were walking past Tim Henman and we had just seen [Pete] Sampras play,” she said. “My dad said very coolly: ‘Hi Pete’. I was mortified!”
Meanwhile, in 2021 the mum-of-three accompanied tennis star Emma Raducanu for a game of tennis at the LTA’s National Tennis Centre as they celebrated the sports star’s success at the recent US Open.
The heartbreaking news comes after the Princess of Wales opened up about her “incredibly tough couple of months” after being diagnosed with cancer. In a video released on Friday, 22 March, Kate thanked the public for their “messages of support” as she opened up about the news.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she said.
She added: “We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
