Wimbledon has always been about more than just tennis. The Championships are steeped in history, tradition, and emotion – but perhaps no moment better encapsulates the human heart of the tournament than the sight of the Duchess of Kent consoling a tearful Jana Novotna on Centre Court in 1993.
It was the women’s singles final, and the young Czech player had come agonisingly close to victory against the reigning champion, Steffi Graf. Novotna led 4-1 in the final set and appeared on the brink of an extraordinary upset. But nerves crept in, errors followed, and Graf staged a comeback to win 7–6, 1–6, 6–4. As the match ended and the ceremony began, Novotna couldn’t hold back her tears.
And then came a moment that would be remembered for decades. As Novotna stood on the Centre Court podium, her face crumpling with emotion, the Duchess of Kent – presenting the trophies that year – pulled her close in a warm embrace. Whispering words of comfort, the Duchess rested Novotna’s head gently on her shoulder, offering the kind of compassion that transcended sport, status, or nationality.
The Duchess of Kent, born Katharine Worsley, had long been a regular fixture at Wimbledon. Her quiet dignity, personal warmth, and genuine interest in players made her one of the tournament’s most beloved royal figures.
The Duchess had presented trophies at Wimbledon for more than two decades. She made her debut in this role in 1969, replacing Princess Marina, and continued the tradition through to the early 2000s. Often, royals can be criticised for having a certain detachment. The Duchess of Kent, however, was known for her humanity.
Players often remarked on how approachable and empathetic she was. She memorably hugged a jubilant Pat Cash after his 1987 men’s final victory, and it was the Duchess who stood beside Martina Navratilova for many of her historic nine Wimbledon wins. But it was the moment with Novotna in 1993 that truly cemented her in the hearts of tennis fans.
Jana Novotna would return to Wimbledon, her resolve stronger than ever. Five years after that painful loss, she triumphed at last in 1998, winning the women’s singles title and fulfilling the promise she had once let slip away. When she lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish, the Duchess of Kent was there again, waiting with a smile of unmistakable pride. “I told you you’d do it,” the Duchess is said to have told her.
In the years since, that 1993 embrace has been replayed countless times. It continues to resonate because it reminds us that in a world of elite sport and royal formality, real human connection still matters most.
The Duchess of Kent stepped away from public life in the early 2000s, and her final Wimbledon trophy presentation came in 2001. But her legacy at the tournament lives on. She set a standard not just of royalty, but of compassion – of knowing that sometimes, the most powerful gesture is simply to be there for someone in their moment of need.
That single hug between the Duchess of Kent and Novotna remains one of the most unforgettable moments in Wimbledon history. Still to this day, it is rebroadcast in montages, and even appears in the opening music of the BBC’s championship coverage.
Jana Novotna died in 2017 at the age of 49 following a battle with cancer.
The Duchess of Kent led the tributes, with a post on Twitter reading “Jana Novotna was a brave, courageous sweet lady with a wonderful sense of humour.
“I am very saddened by the news of her death and all my feelings are with her family. Wimbledon will not be the same without her.”
