A photo of Roger Federer seemingly sitting alone in the royal box at Wimbledon this week has sparked questions about both empty seats at the tournament and how celebrities gain invites to the VIP seating. The royal box was first installed in the southern stand at Wimbledon’s Centre Court when the grounds originally opened in 1922. Since then, the 74-seater segregated area has hosted celebrities, sportspeople, royalty, and other famous faces on each day of the tournament.
Judy Murray Among Royal Box Attendees
Among those keeping a close eye on proceedings at Wimbledon from the royal box is Judy Murray. This comes despite both her title-winning sons retiring from the sport. Many of the world’s biggest sporting legends are invited to attend the Royal Box, with women’s tennis great Martina Navratilova considered Wimbledon royalty.
Record men’s singles champion Federer seemed to cut a lonely figure in the box later in the day on Monday, though Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli kept him company earlier. Other sporting icons present have included Olympic champion Denise Lewis and European Championship-winning footballer Beth Mead, who were seated together. British athletics icons Paula Radcliffe, Kelly Holmes and Jonathan Edwards are also among the legends invited.
The Invitation Process and VIP Perks
Guests receive invitations directly from the chairperson of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), a role held by former professional player Debbie Jevans since 2023. She considers suggestions from the AELTC’S management committee, the Lawn Tennis Association, other tennis bodies, and prominent figures when selecting high-profile guests. Those invited do not have to queue or pay for entry, and are also invited to lunch before play begins.
Additionally, tea and drinks are offered following the close of play. These exclusive events take place in the adjacent clubhouse. Those taking one of the dark green Lloyd Loom wicker chairs in the box can include less recognisable faces, such as commercial partners, delegates, dignitaries, and media professionals, alongside household names.
A Diverse Guest List for Centre Court
The British royal family are regularly invited to the royal box, as are other heads of state like presidents and prime ministers. The guest list is not exclusively from the world of sport; actors Michaela Coel, Monica Barbaro, Andrew Garfield and Tom Hiddleston enjoyed a day in the royal box this year. Model David Gandy is a regular sight in the crowds at Wimbledon, and former England manager Gareth Southgate was applauded by attendees.
While the list is often heavily populated by current and former athletes, actors, musicians, models, and other celebrities are also invited. Some attendees are given frequent invitations and can be seen courtside most years, often celebrities considered serious tennis fans, such as Sir David Beckham and Sir David Attenborough. Others are famous faces whose schedule rarely allows the opportunity to attend, such as footballer Phil Foden, who attended matches on Centre Court in week one after not being selected in England’s World Cup squad.
A full list of the well-known names in attendance is published on each day of the Championships.