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Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Who can sit in the Wimbledon Royal Box? Dress code and how guests are invited

While Wimbledon's Centre Court Royal Box often has royalty among its guests, the best seats in the house aren't just for the blue-blooded - and they don't even decide who is invited.

The exclusive luxury box contains 74 seats and provides enviable views of Centre Court and is often offered to heads of government and other VIP invitees of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has been a regular over the years as she is a keen tennis fan and is a royal patron of the All England Club. In recent years, she has also been on hand to present the singles winners with their trophies.

Last week, Kate was seated next to former champion Roger Federer after a surprise visit to Court 18 to cheer on Brit No. 1 Katie Boulter.

Wimbledon's website says of the prestigious invite-only section: "The Royal Box has been used for the entertainment of friends and guests of Wimbledon since 1922. The Royal Box has 74 seats. They are dark green Lloyd Loom wicker chairs.

"British and overseas royal families are invited as well as heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organisations, supporters of British tennis and other walks of life.

"Invitations come from the chairman of the All England Club, taking into account suggestions from members of The Championships’ organising committee, The Lawn Tennis Association and other relevant sources. Guests are invited to the clubhouse for lunch, tea and drinks at the end of the day."

Every guest, no matter their occupation or title, must follow a strict set of rules.

Wimbledon's website says of the dress code: "Protocol - dress is smart, suits/jacket and tie, etc. Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them."

Up until 2003, it was tradition for players to bow or curtsey to members of the Royal Family who were seated in the Royal Box when entering or leaving Centre Court, but this tradition was ditched in accordance with the wishes of The Duke of Kent, the club's president, with the only exception being if a monarch is in attendance.

Who has been in the Wimbledon Royal Box so far in 2023?

Wimbledon 2023 has already seen a plethora of famous faces take their seats in Centre Court's Royal Box.

Among them have been tennis greats Sue Barker, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova.

From the wider world of sport, Lionesses Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby along with now-retired Lioness Jill Scott enjoyed an afternoon in the sun. David Beckham and his mum Sandra were also enjoying the tennis together, while Gary Lineker, Anthony McCoy, Welsh rugby legends JPR Williams and Sir Gareth Edwards, Red Roses Sarah Hunter and Marlie Packer and Steve Redgrave have all enjoyed the view from the prestigious box at this year's tournament.

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Prince Michael of Kent, Bear Grylls, Andrew Lloyd Webber, astronaut Tim Peake and Ellie Goulding have all been spotted there, too.

Royal Box rejections

Kate Middleton isn't the only tennis fan in her family, with mum Carole, dad Michael and sister Pippa all also enjoying watching the sport at Wimbledon.

In 2017, Carole and Pippa were actually relegated to standard seats for Andy Murray's fourth-round tie against Benoit Paire after reportedly arriving too late for the match, with latecomers not admitted to the box.

Two years earlier in 2015, Lewis Hamilton was rejected for not adhering to the dress code. He arrived wearing a floral shirt but with no tie or jacket.

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