Camilla visits Wimbledon and reveals ball girl stint ‘100 years ago at Queen’s’
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The Queen has revealed she once performed as a ball girl, as she made a surprise visit to Wimbledon on day 10 of the tournament.
Camilla, who was joined by her sister Annabel Elliot, met and spoke to a ball boy and two ball girls as well as staff working at the grounds before heading to the Royal Box to watch the tennis on Centre Court on Wednesday.
The Queen asked Larissa, 15, Sean, 16, and Cassie, 16, whose surnames were not given, if they had previously worked at the tennis tournament and if they were enjoying the role.
She said: “You have to be very agile. I remember doing it 100 years ago at Queen’s (Club). It is quite difficult.”
The Queen asked Sean if he was working across all of the courts for the Grand Slam championship, adding: “You must be feeling very fit.”
When Cassie said she had worked at a previous championship, Camilla joked: “So you are a bit of an expert?”
It is understood that the Queen was a ball girl for the Queen’s tournament during her time as a Queen’s Gate schoolgirl, as was Mrs Elliot.
The school had a long association providing ball girls for the tournament.
The Queen also met dog handler Mark Mills, 59, and his dog Flo, who are part of the security team at Wimbledon.
Camilla smiled as she leaned down to pat Flo.
Mr Mills told the PA news agency: “(Flo) was lying down. She wasn’t going to get up for Her Majesty – Her Majesty had to get down for her.
“I suddenly thought ‘Oh my gosh, I made Her Majesty bend down to stroke her rather than she sit up for Her Majesty’.
“I’m just pleased (Flo) stayed as she was. She’s very greedy this one, and can be temperamental.”
Former British number one women’s tennis player Johanna Konta also met the Queen at Wimbledon.
Konta, who is now retired, told Camilla she had been awake throughout the night with her 10-month-old baby and explained she had had to get dressed in the dark on Wednesday morning.
The Queen asked if she was playing in the tournament and Konta said she would be part of a ladies’ invitation doubles game.
Camilla also met Teresa Harris, founder of the Learn To Love To Read literacy charity that is supported by the Wimbledon Foundation.
The Queen was wearing a white dress with black trim by Fiona Clare, with the colour a nod to traditional tennis whites.
