Princess of Wales praises tennis star who played through cancer
The Princess of Wales told Canadian doubles finalist Gabriela Dabrowski she was "amazing" and "inspirational" for continuing to compete at Wimbledon while undergoing breast cancer treatment. Kate, who revealed her own cancer diagnosis in 2024, met Dabrowski on Saturday at SW19 and praised sport as proof the body can stay strong during illness.
Key Takeaways
- Kate met Gabriela Dabrowski on Saturday before the ladies' singles final at Centre Court.
- Dabrowski, 34, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024 but kept playing through treatment.
- The Princess called her "inspirational" and said sport shows the body can remain strong.
- Dabrowski and partner Luisa Stefani lost Sunday's doubles final 6-3, 7-5 to Mladenovic and Guo.
- It was Dabrowski's third Wimbledon runner-up finish after 2019 and 2024.
What Did the Princess of Wales Say to Gabriela Dabrowski?
Canadian tennis player Gabriela Dabrowski met the Princess of Wales on Saturday afternoon at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, hours before she was due to play the ladies' doubles final on Centre Court on Sunday.
Dabrowski said Kate already knew about her breast cancer diagnosis in 2024. "I guess someone told her, so she acknowledged that and just said it was amazing that I was still playing going through treatment, and she said it was very inspirational," Dabrowski told reporters.
Dabrowski, who is now in remission but has a "few more years" of hormone therapy ahead, said the exchange was emotional. "Just a very beautiful moment. I didn't expect to be emotional, but yeah, very strange feeling," she said.
Why Does Kate Believe Sport Matters During Cancer Recovery?
Both women were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, giving their conversation at Wimbledon a shared personal weight. Kate told Dabrowski that what she loves about sport is that "you can still prove that your body is strong," even while managing illness.
At the end of June, the Princess completed the Three Peaks Challenge, scaling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Dabrowski said she felt the same admiration for Kate's story in return.
The Princess wore a strawberry red belted top and red pleated midi skirt as she took her seat in the royal box. She attended as patron of the club on her second day at the 2026 Championships. For more stories on resilience and innovation, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
How Did Dabrowski's Wimbledon Doubles Final End?
On Sunday, Dabrowski and Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani fell 6-3, 7-5 to France's Kristina Mladenovic and China's Guo Hanyu in their first Grand Slam final as a team. The pair had not dropped a set at Wimbledon before the final.
It marked Dabrowski's third runner-up finish at the All England Club, after losses in 2019 and 2024 with different partners. She delayed treatment in 2024 so she could compete at that year's Wimbledon final and the Paris Olympics, where she won mixed-doubles bronze.
Despite the loss, Dabrowski said she was proud of the run. Reporting from The Evening Standard and CBC Sports captured the moment Kate praised her as an inspiration before the final.