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Julia Lemigova Reveals a Surprising Story Behind That Photo of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle at Wimbledon
The RHOM newcomer and wife Martina Navratilova share what the royals were like at this Grand Slam tournament in 2019.
The Real Housewives of Miami's Julia Lemigova had a front-row seat to one of the most famous matchups ever at Wimbledon. No, we're not talking about all the action that was happening on Centre Court. Rather, Julia and her wife, tennis legend Martina Navratilova, were seated behind none other than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle at the famed Grand Slam tournament in 2019.
Julia and Martina revealed all about this moment, which has been immortalized in some iconic photos, during their appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on February 24. Amid a round of admittedly shady questions posed to the RHOM couple, they were asked if they sensed "any tension between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle when you sat behind them at Wimbledon in 2019."
"Not at all," Julia replied in the above clip. "No, we talked about my nine puppies, which were born while having lunch watching the Wimbledon finals, before the finals. Can you imagine? They were born just there, and that was our conversation, about the little puppies."
Martina also confirmed that there was no drama between the duchesses that day. "They were fine, yeah," she said. "I think they were just enjoying the game."
Julia shared more of her memories from that day during an exclusive interview with The Daily Dish last week. "That was so much fun. I mean, first of all, can you imagine sitting in the little box, watching [the women's] finals and then, you know, Kate and Meghan turn around and we're having this fun conversation," Julia recalled. "They're so humble and wonderful, amazing women."
The Miami Housewife said that those aforementioned nine puppies had actually been born while she was at Wimbledon the year prior, a detail she had told Meghan then, which Julia said the Duchess of Sussex remembered when they spoke again in 2019. "So how amazing was that? And that's what we were talking about," Julia said. "Yeah, it felt pretty great."
Wimbledon also holds a special place in Martina's heart for other reasons. "I have not missed it since I first played in '73," she said on WWHL. "I either played or [have] been doing TV commentary for it."
Martina won a record nine Wimbledon singles championships, in addition to a total of 11 doubles and mixed doubles championship titles at that tournament over the course of her career. "That was the one that I wanted the most," Martina said of her Wimbledon wins during her WWHL appearance. "I think most tennis players want to win Wimbledon more than anything else. These days, it's about all the majors. But still, Wimbledon, I think, ranks No. 1 for most players."
Martina may have retired from the tennis circuit in 2006, but that doesn't mean she has hung up her racket. "We play the Legends at the majors, but then we didn't play it because of COVID, so I haven't played," Martina shared when Andy Cohen asked how often she plays tennis these days during the February 24 WWHL After Show (clip below). "But now we've just been invited to play the French Open and in Wimbledon as well. But I am 65, so I'm really pushing it. Normally, they don't let people after 60 play, but I'm still holding my own."
And Martina can't wait to get back to Wimbledon's Centre Court, which she said is her favorite court to play on. "Just being on grass is great, anywhere on any grass, but there, you have the history of the sport, and it's just magic," she said. "Maybe because it happens only once a year, playing on the grass, but the history there is just incomparable."
Watch Martina spill more secrets from her storied tennis career, below.
Speaking of secrets, it sounds like Julia will have some revelations of her own at the upcoming RHOM Season 4 reunion, according to Andy. "I find Julia to be delightful," Andy told Bitch Sesh co-hosts and Real Housewives superfans Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider during the February 27 WWHL After Show. "Wait until you hear the story that she tells on the reunion. It is incredible."
Part 1 of the RHOM Season 4 reunion begins streaming on Peacock on Thursday, March 3, followed by Part 2 on Thursday, March 10. Bravo Insider has your exclusive first look as the reunion gets underway, below.
Catch up on Seasons 1 through 4 of RHOM on Peacock now.
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Photo: Getty Images
