Kate Middleton and Prince William's Wimbledon appearance with Prince George sparks backlash
The Prince and Princess of Wales' appearance at Wimbledon yesterday sparked backlash after observers spotted a controversial aspect of their eldest son Prince George's attire.
The 12-year-old joined his parents and little sister, Princess Charlotte, in the Royal Box on Sunday (12 July) evening to witness Italy's Jannik Sinner's impressive three-set victory over German player Alexander Zverev in the Men's Singles Final.
But not every sports fan was thrilled to see the youngster sitting Centre Court, especially given his outfit.
George had worn a crisp, pale blue shirt, paired with a heavy navy blazer and a matching striped tie - a look that some have slammed as too restrictive given the soaring temperatures across London yesterday.
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On the final day of the grand slam, temperatures reached a staggering 29C, but while Kate and Charlotte were able to use small sun hats to keep cool, George appeared uncomfortably hot in the direct sunlight.
"Imagine not letting your child wear a T-shirt in this weather," one X user hit out after noticing. "Or at least a short-sleeved shirt with no jacket and tie.
"Seems ridiculous in this day and age."
Another wrote: "Dressed him up like a ventriloquist's doll."
"Prince George looks hot in that full suit at Wimbledon," a third continued. "I respect that the English are formal and keep tradition, but feel bad for the kid lol.
"Could they not have let him wear a polo shirt or something?"
A fourth also asked: "Why did the poor little fella have to wear a jacket and tie?"
A number of spectators rushed to defend Kate and William, however, pointing out that George had simply been abiding by the strict rules that come with sitting inside the royal box.
Wimbledon's official website states on this: "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."
Emphasising these regulations, one social media user penned: "Get with the programme. It's Wimbledon. It's the men's final. It's the royal box. There is a strict dress code."
Another added: "Imagine raising the future King of England to respect the rules of the royal box at Wimbledon and to understand his future role."
A third continued: "There is a dress code in the Royal box at Wimbledon! And he’s the future king!!!"
The Royal Box's strict dress code is not the only strict rule in the 149-year-old tournament...
Wimbledon’s strangest rules
Wimbledon has strict rules and regulations for pretty much everything - from the length of the grass to the temperature of the tennis balls, and you can be fined thousands of pounds for certain conduct violations.
Curfew
While at other grand slams, play continues late into the night, at Wimbledon there’s a strict 11pm curfew.
This means tennis fans sometimes have to go to bed on a cliffhanger.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s 2018 semi-final clash was suspended after the third set. Meanwhile, Andy Murray was particularly peeved when he was in the lead against Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2023, but went on to lose when the game was paused overnight and restarted the following morning.
Timed toilet breaks
Players are limited to one toilet break for matches up to three sets, and two if it goes on for longer.
They can only go during a set change and they have to be back within three minutes, or they risk giving a point to their opponent.
The longest ever Wimbledon match lasted a whopping 11 hours over three days, so players better get their nervous wees in before the match.
Temper tantrums
Players can be fined up to £36,900 for smashing their rackets. Djokovic is believed to have smashed over 60 of them over the course of his career.
Bad language can also result in the same maximum fine.
Countdown to serve
As soon as the ball goes out of play, the serving player has just 25 seconds to hit their serve, or the umpire can call a violation which could potentially grant a point to their opponent.
Fines for not trying hard enough
Players must demonstrate they’re giving their all to win the match. Australian player Bernard Tomic was fined an eye-watering £45,000 after he was accused of not putting in enough effort to beat French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, losing after just 58 minutes.
Age limits
Players have to be at least 14 to compete, which means youth sensations like Coco Gauff were initially barred from taking part.
Spectators, meanwhile, have to be accompanied by a guardian if they’re under 16. Under-fives aren’t permitted at all onto show courts.
This meant Serena Williams' two-year-old daughter Adira River couldn't watch her mum's comeback at this year's grand slam, while not all of Andy Murray's four children could watch his final doubles appearance in 2024.
The grass and the balls
Everything at Wimbledon is just so. The grass is cut to 8mm, which is apparently best suited for modern tennis play and for the grass to survive.
Meanwhile, the tennis balls are kept in a fridge in order to maintain a constant temperature of 20°C. A consistent temperature is important because it apparently affects the way the balls bounce. The more you know.
Tennis whites
It was originally just female players who were required to wear all-white on the court. According to Tennis Fashions: Over 125 Years of Costume Change, the rule was introduced because it was ‘quite unthinkable that a lady should be seen to perspire’. OK then…
Eventually, the rule was imposed on men too.
A single trim of colour is allowed around the neckline and sleeve cuffs, but this must be no thicker than 1cm.
In 2022, an exception was made so women could wear dark undershorts to feel more comfortable if they were on their period.
Topics: Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Royal Family, Wimbledon
Rhianna Benson