MOSCOW, March 27 – Princess of Wales Catherine will be ready to keep the tradition and personally present the prizes for winning the 2023 Wimbledon tennis tournament in singles, even if the champions are representatives of Russia or Belarus, reports The Times.

As stated, the decision on the admission of Russian and Belarusian tennis players to Wimbledon 2023 should be made within the next two weeks. The organizers intend to allow Russians and Belarusians to the tournament in a neutral status and without mentioning their origin on the scoreboard and in television graphics.

Despite fears in royal family circles about the impression that one of her high-ranking members would make in the hands of an athlete from Russia or Belarus against the backdrop of the ongoing special military operation of Russian troops in Ukraine, the Princess of Wales intends to fulfill her duties as patron of the All England Lawn Club tennis and croquet, which she replaced Queen Elizabeth II in 2017.

Russians and Belarusians are allowed to participate in Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournaments in a neutral status in all countries except the UK. In response to the non-admission of representatives of Russia and Belarus to Wimbledon 2022, the ATP and WTA decided not to award rating points to the tournament participants. The ATP and WTA have fined the UK Lawn Tennis Association and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club $1 million for excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from tournaments in Eastbourne, Nottingham and Birmingham.