The Duchess of Cambridge may be about to spend more time in Wimbledon, as she prepares to take over from the Queen as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC).

Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is known to be a keen tennis fan, and is often seen in the Royal Box with her husband Prince William and members of her family during the summer tournament.

The Queen has been patron of the club for 64 years, and is believed to be cutting down her workload and sharing out her various roles in the 628 charities and organisations she is affiliated with ahead of her 90th birthday in April.

A spokesman for the AELTC, Johnny Perkins, said it would not comment on palace matters.

However, he added: “We are very proud of our royal link. It’s one of the things that sets us apart from tournaments around the world.

“We have always been proud of that.”

According to the Sunday Times, the Duchess’s patronage will be officially announced during the championships this summer. It is also rumoured that Price Harry will become patron of the Rugby Football Union later this year.

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A royal source told the Sunday Times: “The Queen is mindful that she does not want organisations with which she is associated to think that when she turns 90, that’s it – it’s goodbye.

“That will not be the case at all.”

Although patrons of organisations are usually non-members who simply lend their name to offer support, the Duchess accepted honorary membership of the All England Club in 2013.