Kate Middleton struggled to contain her emotions in the royal box as Marketa Vondrousova made Wimbledon history to win the coveted ladies' singles crown on Centre Court.

The heavily tattooed 24-year-old Czech is the first unseeded woman ever to win the championship. The world No42 was the first unseeded player to reach the final since Billie Jean King in 1963.

Ms King joined the Ms Middleton in the royal box to watch the thrilling contest, alongside actress Emma Watson, broadcast veteran Sue Barker and Maggie Smith. The princess gasped, cheered and even appeared to wipe away a tear during the course of the enthralling 1hr 20mins match, which ended with Vondrousova winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

As patron of the All England Club, Kate then stepped on to the court to present the champion with the Venus Rosewater Dish, after she beat a devastated beat Ons Jabeur.

The Princess of Wales - who looked stunning in a lime green Self-Portrait dress with pleated chiffon skirt and boucle collared jacket - also spared a moment to console a weeping Jabeur. The world No6, known as the Minister of Happiness in her native Tunisia, admitted: 'This is very tough. I think this is the most painful loss of my career.'

If she had been victorious, Jabeur would have been the first African woman to win Wimbledon, and the first Muslim woman.

Speaking after the match, Vondrousova - who will take home £2.35million prizemoney - said: 'I don't know what is happening. It is an amazing feeling. Ons, you are such an inspiration, I hope you win one day.

'I had a cast this time last year, so it is amazing. Tennis is crazy. The comebacks aren't easy. I was hoping I could come back and now this is happening. Thank you to my box. You are all amazing.' She also revealed that she would be celebrating her win with a beer and an additional tattoo to add to her collection of more than 30.

Asked later what Kate had said to comfort her in defeat, Ms Jabeur said: 'Same thing after last year: to encourage me to be strong, to come back and win a Grand Slam, win a Wimbledon.

'Obviously she was very nice. She didn't know if she wants to give me a hug or not. I told her hugs are always welcome from me. That was a very nice moment and she's always nice to me.'

US singer Nick Jonas and his actress wife Priyanka Chopra were also among the stars in the royal box, near to Lin- Manuel Miranda and Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield