Princess Charlotte given rare 'exception' after breaking Wimbledon rule

You know that Wimbledon is officially in full swing when Kate Middleton makes her first appearance at the tournament.

The Princess of Wales, 44, who has been a patron of the All England Club since 2016, is a big tennis fan, with her attendance becoming as synonymous with the sporting event as Pimms and strawberries.

She sat with Sir Andy Murray on Thursday (2 July) as she watched the games unfold, leaving behind her husband Prince William, and their three children - Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.

However, the rest of the family may still make an appearance at the coming games, despite this, meaning the rules might have to be bent.

Last year, the royal couple brought their two eldest kids along with them to watch the men’s singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, despite a general rule of the Royal Box being that children aren't allowed.

But, as to be expected, being the children of the future King and Queen does come with its perks.

Charlotte and George have both joined their parents in the Royal Box over the years (Karwai Tang/Getty Images)

The only exception to to the rule is of course, royal children, meaning George and Charlotte were well within their rights to enjoy the best view.

The first year 12-year-old Prince George attended Wimbledon was back in 2022 when he was eight, and similarly, Charlotte was eight when she made her Wimbledon debut in 2023.

Last year, some royal fans questioned why Louis, eight, wasn’t with his family at the game.

But, some social media users pointed out that it was likely due to his age, and the little one might struggle to sit through the whole match quietly.

He was seven at the time, and since both of the other royal children were eight when they first attended, it could be that Louis simply had to wait until this year.

As well as royals, many famous faces have also graced the box over the years, with some of the most notable this year including David Beckham, Ellie Goulding, and Lucy Bronze.

The duo have been granted a special exemption (Karwai Tang/Getty Images)

According to the Wimbledon website, the invite list includes: “British and overseas Royal Families, 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.”

And those who make it into the exclusive box then have a slew of strict rules and regulations to follow - no matter how famous they are.

The most notable rule is the dress code, which has caught many celebrities out over the years, including Lewis Hamilton and even Meghan Markle.

Guests are expected to wear a jacket and tie or a full suit, while women have to follow a 'smart attire' dress-code.

The official website adds: "Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them."