Wimbledon's Royal Box rules explained as several celebrities have been spotted in the VIP area
Wimbledon commenced yesterday (29 June) and is set to go on until later next month (12 July).
Amidst all the Pimms, strawberries and cream and, of course, tennis, one of the biggest talking points every tournament is all to do with the famed Royal Box, especially once the cameras start cutting to celebrities between points.
Several famous faces fill the exclusive seats each year, leaving plenty of viewers wondering how stars actually end up there.
Now, despite the slightly misleading name, the Royal Box isn't reserved solely for members of the Royal Family.
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This year's Championships have already seen celebrities including David Beckham, Mary Berry, Ronan Keating, Tess Daly and Mark Rylance taking their seats on Centre Court, prompting fresh questions about who actually gets invited into one of the most exclusive areas in sport.
"Why should celebrities be given Royal Box Centre Court tickets in the first place?" one X user asked.
A second slammed: "Just rename Royal Box the money box.."
"Why not give VIP passes to those who deserve it more?" urged a third.
The 74-seat Royal Box has welcomed guests since 1922 and remains strictly invitation only.
According to Wimbledon, invitations come from the Chair of the All England Club, taking into account suggestions from members of The Championships’ Organising Committee, The Lawn Tennis Association and other relevant sources.
The tournament explains that the Royal Box is reserved for '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'.
That means alongside royals, you'll often spot actors, musicians, TV presenters, sporting legends and other notable guests enjoying the action from the best seats in the house.
However, even after securing an invite, there are still rules to follow.
Guests are expected to follow a smart dress code, with Wimbledon stating that 'smart attire' is required.
Men are typically expected to wear a jacket and tie, while women are asked to wear an afternoon dress or an elegant trouser suit.
"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," the official Wimbledon website states.
The rule has applied to everyone from celebrities to young royals, with Prince George wearing a suit and tie when he made his Wimbledon debut a few years back in 2022.
Guests also must arrive on time, something which Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa, knows firsthand after being denied entry back in 2017 due to a late arrival.
According to the Daily Express, Pippa and her mother Carole were denied the chance to sit with the rest of their family because they turned up late to see Andy Murray take on French professional Benoit Paire.
Instead of getting to sit with their fellow famous faces, they were taken to the regular seats, situated behind the box.
Rhiannon Ingle