Prince William and Kate Middleton light up Wimbledon

(CBS/AP) - Prince William and new wife Kate took some time off from their official royal duties and made an appearance at Wimbledon on Monday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were on hand to cheer fellow Brit Andy Murray as he took on France's Richard Gasquet, received a warm ovation from the crowd as they were seated in the front row of the Royal Box in Centre Court.

Pictures: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Pictures: William and Kate at Wimbledon
Pictures: Wimbledon 2011

In keeping with Wimbledon's all-white dress theme, Kate wore an off-white, Temperley London knee-length dress with tiered layers and embroidered straps. Her dress pick was weather appropriate as temperatures in London reached the mid 80s.

The couple's attendance proved to be good luck for Murray, who defeated Gasquet in three straight sets for a place in the quarterfinals.

"If I'd known they were coming, I would have shaved," a smiling Murray said of his meeting with the newlyweds after the match . "I was thinking to myself as I came off I was sweaty and very hairy. I said to them, 'I'm sorry, I'm a bit sweaty."'

At least Murray had a well-practiced bow ready. Last year, he was watched by the Queen on her first visit to the tournament in 33 years and bowed low with one arm bent behind his back and one in front.

The players weren't obliged to bow for William and Kate, but after shaking hands with Gasquet, Murray waved to three sides of the Centre Court crowd before turning to the Royal Box and repeating his very proper bow as the couple stood and applauded.

"I hadn't planned on doing it before," Murray said after beating Gasquet 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2. "When the Queen came to our match last year we were told she was coming and that we would bow when we went on and off the court.

"But today we weren't told anything, so it was just sort of off the cuff."

Murray said it was "very nice" to meet the couple, who he said told him: "Well done on the match. Asked me how it was out there. That was it. Wasn't a long conversation."

William and Kate later returned to Centre Court and saw Venus Williams and Rafael Nadal in action.

Security was noticeably tighter at the All England Club, and a police helicopter circled the grounds early on during the Royals' visit.

St. James's Palace said William and Kate said they were at the All England Club "privately."

The palace said Kate has been to Wimbledon "quite a number of times" and is a keen tennis fan. William visited Wimbledon several times as a child with his mother, Princess Diana.

The newlyweds will begin their first official overseas tour together in Ottawa, Canada, on Thursday.