William and Kate arrive at Wimbledon with George and Charlotte
William wore a double breasted blazer and white chinos, while Kate chose a striking royal blue dress for the occasion.
George looked sharp in a black suit, and Charlotte wore a beige summer dress.
The family were seen shaking hands and speaking with staff before taking their seats in the royal box.
Ahead of the women's final, the princess met eight-year-old Lydia Lowe, who performed the coin toss at the women's wheelchair final.
The princess told runner-up Amanda Anisimova to keep her 'head high' after the American suffered a heavy defeat in Saturday's final.
Kate consoled Anisimova, who was in tears, as she presented her runner-up prize.
The princess then presented the trophy to Polish player Iga Swiatek, who won the title for the first time by beating Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in a final which lasted only 57 minutes.
Speaking after the match about meeting Kate, Anisimova said: 'It was such an honour to meet her.
'She definitely had a few things to say that were making me emotional again.
'She was really kind and she told me to keep my head high.'
Swiatek said receiving the trophy from the princess was 'surreal', adding that Kate told her 'some nice stuff about the performance' on Centre Court.
The Wimbledon champion added: 'Since I was a kid, I'm a big fan of the royal family so it was amazing and I really appreciated that.
'And I'm really grateful that it was her royal highness giving the trophy.'
Last year, Kate presented the Wimbledon men's final trophy to Alcaraz in her second public engagement since she announced her cancer diagnosis.
The Princess of Wales's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were seen in the royal box on Monday, with the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester also in attendance.
Ahead of the women's final, the princess – wearing a white belted jacket and pleated skirt – met eight-year-old Lydia Lowe, who performed the coin toss at the women's wheelchair final.
After shaking her hand, the princess asked the eight-year-old whether she was 'nervous' about tossing the coin, adding: 'Have you got any advice for me, because I've got to go out.'
Lydia, who suffered a brain injury in January 2024, leaving her visually impaired and having to relearn to walk, talk and eat, replied: 'Don't be nervous. Take deep breaths.'
The eight-year-old performed the coin toss while representing the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, a charity supporting people with disabilities who play tennis by providing them with specialist equipment and grants.
The men's singles final on Sunday, with highs of 29C predicted, is unlikely to break the record of the warmest closing day at the tournament, which was 34.1C on July 3 1976.
The extreme heat during the 1976 tournament prompted organisers to allow umpires to remove their jackets.
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The Guardian
31 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘There is history here': For Laredo's baseball team, the US/Mexico border is their true hometown
The differences between attending a baseball game in the US and Mexico are difficult to miss. The on-field rules are identical, but the atmosphere in Mexican baseball stands is noisy, musical, constant and infectious. The two fan cultures are distinct enough that, were you to drop a blindfolded supporter into either crowd, they would be able to identify which side of the Rio Grande they stood within seconds – or so you might think. Reality is never so binary. Despite the often unyielding political debates about them, international borders rarely possess hard edges. This is particularly true in South Texas, and not merely as some writerly conceit - even that most material indicator of crossing a border, a checkpoint with customs officers, can be found 50 miles away from the actual national boundary. The Rio Grande may delineate where Mexico and the US officially begin and end, but the famous river simultaneously exists at the centre of economies, communities and individual lives that span both of its banks. Living with one foot in Laredo (on the US side) and the other in Nuevo Laredo (in Mexico) is so intrinsic to life here that it's even reflected in the name of the cities' beloved baseball team, los Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (the Two Laredos Owls). Like many things in border regions, the team affectionately known as 'los Tecos' enjoys multiple identities. As their name suggests, they play home games on both sides of the border, making them simultaneously Mexican, American and, perhaps most of all, representative of the blended experience that has always survived in the blurry lines between the two. 'The US-Mexican border es una herida abierta [is an open wound] where the Third World grates against the First and bleeds,' wrote Gloria Anzaldúa, a scholar and South Texas native whose Borderlands/La Frontera is considered a seminal work on the subject. 'The lifeblood of two worlds merg[es] to form a third country.' This third country, to many, is the cultural zone known as La Frontera (the border). People on either side of many borders often have more in common with each other than they do with their compatriot communities deeper in their own countries' heartlands. This is the case along the Rio Grande and, as such, los Tecos can also be viewed as La Frontera's de facto national team. They are first and foremost, however, representatives of the two Laredos. 'Yes, there are fans in Matamoros, Reynosa, Piedras Negras [other cities along the Texas-Mexico border],' says Juan Alanis, a media official for los Tecos who also serves as one of the team's play-by-play broadcasters. 'The base, the nucleus [however] is in the two Laredos … there's a history here.' Los Tecos compete in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (the Mexican Baseball League, or LMB), a competition featuring twenty teams spread across much of the country, from Tijuana to Cancún. Club baseball lacks a standard metric for comparing domestic leagues à la European football but, depending on the criteria and source, the LMB is arguably the third- to sixth-strongest domestic competition in the world. Although LMB baseball falls well below the standard of play in the MLB and Japan's NPB, it is arguably as good as (or better than) leagues in Korea, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic (during the LMB's offseason, Mexico also hosts a smaller and shorter winter baseball league which some pundits argue to be Mexico's highest standard of baseball). What can be said about without debate, however, is that the LMB was considered a AAA competition (i.e., on par with the second-highest level of competition in the U.S.) from 1967 until the 2021 restructuring of minor league baseball. The LMB is also older than all the non-US leagues mentioned above – indeed, the league is now celebrating its 100th Tecos have been there for most of it. Mexican baseball clubs bounce from city to city at least as much as their US counterparts, but a club called los Tecolotes has played in either Laredo or Nuevo Laredo for the vast majority of seasons since the 1940s. The current team may technically be the third franchise to bear the Tecos name, but such trivialities seem to matter little to fans. 'The entire place was a party,' fan Ricardo Ábrego says of los Tecos' penultimate championship in 1977 (two franchises ago). A 58-year-old carpenter from Nuevo Laredo, Ábrego attended the match with his extended family and smiles at the memory. Sporting a plushie Tecos mascot poking out of his breast pocket, it's fair to call Ábrego a superfan. When asked what los Tecos mean to him, he replies 'todo' (everything) before going on to recount the team's championship pedigree. With five titles under their belt, los Tecos are one of the LMB's winningest teams, roughly analogous to the MLB's Detroit Tigers in terms of post-season success (as well as their location on the northern border). Such success, when partnered with the team's longevity in the area, makes Tecos fandom a multi-generational affair. 'I've always liked them – my grandfather always liked them,' says 23-year-old factory worker Eduardo Espino. 'For my family, it's baseball more than football. I think it's because we are from La Frontera, we're very fronteriza [of the border culture].' In many ways, Espino exemplifies the Tecos' binational identity – despite living in Nuevo Laredo, most of his childhood memories of Tecos games are from the Texas side of the border. He speaks with the Guardian, however, while attending a match in Nuevo Laredo, where he prefers the atmosphere. 'The people at the matches in Nuevo Laredo are more emotional,' says Espino 'The stands are full and the support is just… more.' Alanis and Ábrego both agree–a slight preference for the (much older) stadium in Nuevo Laredo seems to be a universally acknowledged but unwritten truth among Tecos supporters. 'I prefer the atmosphere in Nuevo Laredo,' says superfan Ábrego, before clarifying that he loves going to games at both sites. ' '[In Nuevo Laredo], the crowd is more passionate, fiercer, more grrrr,' notes Alanis the broadcaster. 'But respectful, always respectful … If the fielder of the other team makes a good play, the fans applaud.' This is more than just the positive PR of a marketing professional. On several occasions at the games this correspondent attended, Tecos fans applaud the away team's defensive efforts. This, however, happens at games in both Laredo and Nuevo Laredo – as ever, either side of the border have much in common. Yes, the stadium at Nuevo Laredo is a bit louder than its counterpart in Laredo (especially owing to the presence of a regularly hand-cranked raid siren). But, to someone used to East Coast baseball, home games in the two Laredos are more similar than they are different. On both sides of the border, many plays (even simple strikes early in the count) are greeted with a stadium-wide chorus of twirling matracas, wooden mechanical noisemakers that one spins and were common sights at British football grounds a half-century ago. Hand-pumped airhorns are also popular and regularly activated. 'In Mexico, compared to MLB, there's always noise, noise, noise until the pitcher pitches, [when] it's silent,' says Alanis. 'You have 12 seconds with the pitch clock, [so] the DJ knows he can play music for ten seconds. It's very normal in Mexico.' Indeed, either English-language pop music (think Michael Jackson and Clearance Clearwater Revival) or Spanish-language genres popular in La Frontera (think Selena and Grupo Frontera) are loudly piped through the stadium's speakers until just before the pitcher begins his windup. The music's constant fading in and out can cause a sensory overload but, given how many fans are actively dancing and singing between pitches, it palpably adds to the atmosphere (and, in line with what every interviewee above said, there is certainly a bit more dancing in the crowd at the game in Nuevo Laredo). Aside from the acoustic experience, attending an LMB game is a nice mix of the best elements of both major and minor league baseball in the US. As with the minor leagues, a Tecos game is cheap and family friendly; parking is free and just four dollars buys both a hot dog and a small beer, even at the Laredo stadium. Like the US major leagues, however, LMB games feature in-stadium replays on the big screen and significant emotional investment all around the ballpark. Pitchers pound their chest emphatically after a strike out and fans with worried faces clasp their hands in prayer. LMB baseball's existence at la frontera of minor and major league baseball appeals to players as well fans. 'It's been fun – everywhere I've been has been awesome,' says Stephen Gonsalves, a pitcher for the visiting Charros de Jalisco who previously played for the MLB's Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. Gonsalves is part of a recent wave of US players who've opted to play in the LMB. 'There are fewer jobs stateside,' he adds, referring to the nationwide reduction of minor league teams in the US in 2020. 'So, now … there are a lot of older, veteran guys that have played in the big leagues. Every team has at least three or four former big leaguers on it… It's good competition.' LMB players also seem to enjoy a higher quality of life than their minor league counterparts. 'Minor league baseball was a hassle,' says Andrew Pérez, another pitcher from the visiting Charros team who spent six years with Chicago White Sox organization, including significant time with their AAA affiliate. 'I was in the minor leagues when you had eight guys in an apartment.' Now, for players like Pérez and Gonsalves, the most annoying logistical hurdles seem to be the multiple border crossings and hotels during away stands at the two Laredos (home games alternate between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo). This cross-border shuffling seems to be a common complaint among visiting teams, and may even represent a homefield advantage for los Tecos. For many, many residents of both Laredos (including los Tecos), crossing the US-Mexico border is simply a bureaucratic fact of daily life, much like toll roads or paying for public transport in other cities. Recent surges in media coverage may suggest the presence of some new crisis at the border but, based on those responses of those who live around it, it's business as usual. Every person interviewed for this article said that they hadn't noticed a significant change at the border in recent months and, if anything, seemed a little amused by my questions on the subject. In the two Laredos, the border has always been a part of everyday life and will continue to be long after the surge in interest dies down. By claiming both Laredos as their home, los Tecos' fronteriza identity represents an older, historical and undivided Laredo that predates the United States and was only bifurcated in the 19th century as a result of the Mexican-American War. Here on the Rio Grande, questions of national jurisdiction seem temporary compared to the longevity of many families' and communities' presence in the area. Los Tecos represent the reality of those people. Walking back over the bridge to the US from the game in Nuevo Laredo (the CBP officer, a fan, asks about the game), the river look remarkably un-grande.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Panathinaikos enlist Celtic spy for Rangers mission as Erik Palmer-Brown reveals what he was told about Ibrox side
Cameron Carter-Vickers dished out his info on the Ibrox side to his international team-mate ahead of crunch UCL return Panathinaikos ace Erik Palmer-Brown revealed he enlisted Celtic pal Cameron Carter-Vickers as a spy in a bid to dump Rangers. The American defender contacted his international team mate for the inside track on Russell Martin's side ahead of the Champions League qualifying crunch. Tuesday's first leg never went to plan for the Greek side and Rangers travel to Athens with a 2-0 cushion going into tomorrow's second leg in the Olympic Stadium. But Palmer-Brown insists the tie is far from over and armed with info from his pals in Scotland, and former Hibs star Jimmy Jeggo who he played with at Austria Vienna, he is determined to send Martin's side crashing. He said: 'Cam's one of the guys I spoke to. I also spoke to Jimmy Jeggo. Cam told me they brought in six or seven new signings so he wasn't too sure but he was telling me about the right back and all the players he did know. 'He just said they are a good team and they are willing to push forward to go and get the win. 'Cam's been my friend for a long time so it kind of cut off quick about the football conversation and went to life because I've just had a kid. 'But it was a good conversation. I know Auston Trusty is there with him now too and what they did last season so congratulations to them. 'Cam is the man, I always saw it coming that he would play at a high level. I know he loves Scotland, he always talks about it so it was a really good conversation.' Palmer-Brown was one of two Panathinaikos players guilty of spurning big chances before Rangers blazed ahead at Ibrox through Findlay Curtis. The 28-year-old former Manchester City defender watched his first half effort brilliantly saved by Jack Butland, who also denied Filip Duricic twice. Rui Vitoria's side know they let Gers off the hook with the second half red card dished out to Georgia's Vagiannidis leaving them a man short for the final half hour.. But with temperatures forecast to still be well clear of 30C by kick off time they are ready to turn up the heat on Martin's men. Palmer-Brown said: 'The atmosphere was amazing at Ibrox. The walkout song, Simply the Best, was really cool to walk out to as well. 'The goalkeeper had a really good performance. Some of these were our mistakes, we had my chance as well. I've got to put that away. 'We hope he doesn't have as good a game as last week. We are going to give it our best. We did a lot of things well. We didn't finish off the chances we created and ultimately that hurt us. 'This is football and sometimes it's cruel. You get unlucky sometimes. 'This game we need to take advantage of the chances we create. 'As a group we know what's on the line. We can't concede any more goals and we have to score multiple goals so our goal is to go out there, play for the fans, play for the club and we are going to do that to the best of our ability.' Palmer-Brown knows Panathinaikos have no option but to go after Rangers in a bid to save their £40m Champions League dream. But he also knows the Ibrox side carry a real threat on the counter. He said: 'We learned a lot about Rangers. They are very good with the ball, bringing those wing backs inside a little bit to play. 'They are also very good in. One on one situations out wide. They had some good options, attacking threats and even off the bench the guy came in and did well. 'We learned we can count the on the counter too. They made mistakes but we never put our chances away. 'I really do believe we can do that, go out there and do this. But also from ourselves our standpoint is to go out there and do what we did similarly and finish our chances. 'We created so many but with the way the result went we know we can't give up too many at the back.'
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
New York shooting: gunman said in note that high school football gave him CTE
The gunman identified in the mass shooting in New York on Monday that killed four victims – including a police officer – was a former high school football player who left a note complaining that the sport had given him the brain injury known as CTE. Detectives are still trying to determine the motive behind 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura's shooting spree in 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan on Monday. It ranks as the deadliest firearms attack in New York City in a quarter of a century. Tamura shot and killed an off-duty police officer, Didarul Islam, 36, and three other victims. He also shot and seriously injured an employee of the National Football League (NFL) which has corporate offices in the skyscraper, and the New York police department (NYPD) is investigating whether he was targeting the NFL, having blamed the organisation for his perceived brain injuries. At the end of the attack, Tamura rode an elevator up to the 33rd floor, where he killed a fourth person before taking his own life in the offices of the real estate company Rudin Management, which owns the targeted building. CNN reported that Tamura's body was found with a note in his back pocket in which he said that he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The disease – which has similarities to Alzheimer's – has been linked to repetitive blows to the head and concussions incurred by American football players. 'Terry Long football gave me CTE,' part of the note said according to CNN. It went on: 'You can't go against the NFL, they'll squash you. 'Study my brain please I'm sorry Tell Rick I'm sorry for everything.' Long, a former player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was one of the first NFL players to be diagnosed with CTE in 2005. He killed himself after drinking antifreeze that same year. The identity of 'Rick' was not immediately clear. New York's mayor, Eric Adams, confirmed the existence of the note on CBS's This Morning. 'He did have a note on him,' Adams said. 'The note alluded to that he felt he had CTE, a known brain injury for those who participate in contact sports. He appeared to have blamed the NFL for his injury.' The mayor added that early police investigations suggested that the shooter had been targeting the NFL. 'We have reason to believe that he was focused on the NFL agency that was located in the building,' Adams remarked. The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, said on Tuesday that a league employee had been seriously injured in the attack. The employee is in hospital in a stable condition. Goodell said that security had been tightened in the Park Avenue offices. Addressing league staff, he said: 'Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family. We will get through this together.' New York police said that Tamura travelled from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to the city. A search of his car uncovered a loaded revolver, ammunition and prescription medicines for Tamura, who had a history of mental health problems. Public records show that he had acquired a security guard license, and reports suggest he had been working security at a Las Vegas casino. His voter registration showed him having no party affiliation. As a teenager, he played competitive football as a running back at Golden Valley high school in Santa Clarita and later at Granada Hills Charter school in Los Angeles. A teammate from those days told the local LA news station ABC7 that he was a 'great guy in general. He was just a guy who really enjoyed the sport, not problematic at all.' A video recorded after a game between Granada Hills and a local rival school showed Tamura describing how his team came back from being 10-0 down to winning 35-31. 'Definitely, definitely had to stay disciplined,' he said. 'Coach just kept telling us don't hold your head down. We had to just keep playing, keep playing through it, just hold your heads up high and a good result is going to come.' CTE is a neurodegenerative disease that has been found to be caused by repeated head injuries. It is most associated with contact sports as well as with military personnel who suffer traumatic brain incidents. The NFL first publicly accepted there was a link between the disease and football in 2016, having resisted acknowledging the connection for years. The previous year a multimillion-dollar settlement was agreed between the NFL and thousands of former players. Research conducted by Dr Ann McKee of the CTE Center at Boston University made the association irrefutable. A 2023 study from the center found that of 376 former NFL players whose brains were studied after death, 345 were diagnosed with CTE. Symptoms of the disease include depression, headaches, and sleeping problems. Last year, a study by Mass General Brigham in Boston of 2,000 former NFL players found that more than a third thought they had the disease and many reported having frequent suicidal thoughts.
