A century of iconic moments in Wimbledon’s Royal Box: How 74-seat enclave of Centre Court has hosted ex-competitor George VI, a smoking Princess Margaret and some VERY racy celebs
For more than a century, the mere presence of its guests has been a distraction from what should be the main event: the tennis.
But given that the Royal Box at Wimbledon has hosted everyone who matters – from the monarch downwards – that is no surprise.
Ever since it opened in 1922, the 74-seat area of Centre Court has been the setting for moments that have lived long in the national memory.
The box was a favourite destination for Princess Diana, not least in 1991 when her loving outing with eldest son Prince William stirred the nation.
So has Kate Middleton with her appearances since making her debut in 2011 – though her joint visits with Meghan Markle in 2018 and 2019 were notable only for their awkwardness.
As for celebrities playing their part; Barbra Streisand set tongues wagging when she appeared to support Andre Agassi in his doomed 1993 defence of his title.
And Jude Law was not the first celebrity to provide photographers with gold dust when he and then-girlfriend Sienna Miller packed on the PDA in 2004.
And David Beckham provoked a fresh wave of love for himself when he caught a rogue ball while watching proceedings from the Royal Box in 2015.
As for Cliff Richard’s impromptu singing during a rain delay in 1996; that is perhaps Wimbledon’s most iconic crowd moment. But it was not actually in the Royal Box.
Princess Diana and her eldest son Prince William clap as they watch the women’s final at Wimbledon in 1991
The Princess of Wales, then the Duchess of Cambridge, is seen enjoying herself during the fourth round match between Tsvetana Pironkova and Venus Williams in 2011
Smoking up a storm! Princess Margaret enjoys a cigarette during the Wimbledon men’s singles final in 1965
The moment in 2015 when David Beckham caught a ball that had flicked up during a doubles match featuring Andy Murray’s brother Jamie
David Attenborough receives a standing ovation as he takes his seat in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, 2024
Actor Jude Law and his girlfriend Sienna Miller kiss in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, 2004
Barbra Streisand set tongues wagging when she appeared to support Andre Agassi in his doomed 1993 defence of his title
Kate and William smile as they attend day seven of the Wimbledon Championships in 2011
Princess Diana is seen enjoying Wimbledon in 1981, just a few weeks before she married King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales
Princess Diana claps along at Wimbledon in 1981. In the front row is Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent
Princess Diana beams during the final of the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1993
The Princess sat next to her mother, Francis Shand Kydd. She outlived her daughter by seven years after Diana’s death in a car crash in 1997
Princess Diana is seen in the royal box at Wimbledon with her friend Julia Samuel in 1994
Princess Diana (left) and Sarah, Duchess of York (right) during the Wimbledon Championships in June 1988
Kate beams as she makes her way to her seat at Wimbledon with Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, in 2018
Meghan Markle and Kate are seen sitting next to each other at the Wimbledon Championships in July 2019
Meghan Markle enjoys a laugh with Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, July 2019
Deck chairs at the ready: Spectators seen sitting down outside Wimbledon as they wait for the gates to open, July 1962
Female tennis fans show off their tickets as they queue for the 1976 Wimbledon Tennis Championships
Tennis fans queuing outside the gates of the All England Club, June 1955
Tea is served to spectators queuing for tickets at Wimbledon, June 1937
Spectators queuing to get into Wimbledon, 1925. Even back then, going to watch the tennis was a national obsession
Spectators seen queuing at the Wimbledon championships, 1921
A messenger boy seen hard at work amidst a queue of people at Wimbledon, 1919
Spectators prepared to wait for hours are seen sitting down while queuing to get into Wimbledon, July 1962
Excitable spectators seen posing for a group photo as they wait to get into Wimbledon, July 1960
Prince George is seen in the royal box with his mother and father at the Wimbledon final, 2022
I can’t look! Prince George looks anxious as he watches the men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, 2022
Hugh Grant gives one of his characteristic nonchalant expressions while in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, 2017
Tom Cruise provides some celebrity star dust in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, 2021
During a rain delay in 2001, former US President Bill Clinton gave an impromptu interview to the BBC. He said: ‘You know it’s England, it has to rain some time’
Princess Margaret, seen wearing a pair of groovy sunglasses, enjoys a cigarette (again!) at Wimbledon in 1968
Princess Margaret accepts a light from a companion in the royal box as she smokes at Wimbledon in 1966
Princess Margaret and the Queen enjoy a sisterly moment in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, July 7, 1962
Princess Anne smiles for the crowd from her position in the Royal Box, July 1967
Princess Anne (bottom right), then still at school, is seen in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, 1962
Princess Margaret turns to say a few words to her neice Princess Anne in the Royal Box on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, 1965
Princess Michael of Kent seen with prime minister Margaret Thatcher at Wimbledon, 1981
Sarah Ferguson seen in the Royal Box at Wimbledon in July 1986, before her marriage to Prince Andrew
Sarah Ferguson wows crowds in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, July 1986
Sarah Ferguson seen with a friend at Wimbledon, 1989
Elizabeth, Duchess of York, sits in a box with two friends and watches her husband George VI, Duke of York, and Wing Commander the Honourable Louis Greig playing tennis against H. Roper Barrett and A.W. Gore at the Wimbledon Championships, 1926
Queen Mary, then the Queen Mother, is seen with Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, attending the women’s final at Wimbledon in 1947
American champion Jack Kramer (centre) is seen greeting Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and King George VI after being presented with the winner’s trophy in 1947. George competed as a player at the 1926 championships
The Duke and Duchess of Kent hold a private conversation during the final of the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 1966, in which America’s Billie-Jean King defeated Maria Buena of Brazil
