Getting tickets to sit in the prestigious Royal Box at the Wimbledon Championships is considered one of the most exclusive privileges in the world of sport. As the most famous tennis tournament on earth, Wimbledon attracts royalty, celebrities and dignitaries from around the world each year. Sitting in the Royal Box allows approximately 74 privileged guests each day to watch the action from the best seats in the house.
But how does one actually go about getting these coveted seats? The application process is shrouded in mystery and there is much speculation about who gets to sit in the Royal Box and why. This article will explain everything you need to know about how to get Royal Box tickets for Wimbledon.
What is the Royal Box at Wimbledon?
The Royal Box is a private viewing area at the Wimbledon Championships reserved for members of the British royal family and invited dignitaries. It is located in the best possible position to watch the tennis – right above Centre Court with outstanding views of the action.
While most of the seating at Wimbledon is available to the general public through an open ticket ballot, access to the Royal Box is strictly by invitation only. Sitting in the Royal Box is considered a huge honour and the dress code is meticulously enforced – gentlemen must wear suits while ladies must wear dresses.
The Royal Box has 74 dark green wicker chairs lined up in four rows, with 38 seats on the front row and 36 seats behind. It has its own entrance via a separate hallway, giving it an air of exclusivity compared to the main stadium areas.
History of the Royal Box
The Royal Box can trace its origins back to the very first Wimbledon Championship in 1877. As befitting a tournament founded by royalty and initially titled the ‘All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club’, the idea of reserving special seating for privileged guests was there from the start. At the first Wimbledon, 200 chairs were placed around the lawn for members and ticket holders.
When the current Centre Court was constructed in 1922, a designated Royal Box was formally created for the first time. Its central position mirrored the tradition at other sporting events in Britain, such as the Royal Enclosure at Ascot racecourse. The King and Queen attended Wimbledon for the first time in 1926, further cementing the Royal Box’s status as the most exclusive seating area at the tournament.
Nowadays, many changes have come to Wimbledon over the decades, but access to the Royal Box remains as restricted and sought-after as ever.
Who Gets To Sit in the Royal Box?
The guest list for the Royal Box is organized by the Chairman of the All England Club and his Committee of Management. They adhere to a strict protocol when deciding who gets one of the 74 daily invitations.
The most frequent occupants of the Royal Box are, unsurprisingly, members of the British royal family. In particular, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (Prince William and Kate Middleton) have attended Wimbledon together regularly in recent years. Other royals often seen enjoying the action from these prime seats include the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester.
In addition to British royals, monarchs and royalty from other countries are often invited into the Royal Box when visiting the UK during Wimbledon fortnight. In 2013, the King and Queen of the Netherlands sat alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to watch Andy Murray make history in the men’s final.
Aside from royalty, there are a select group of people who tend to get access to the Royal Box year after year. Firstly, key members of organisations involved in the Wimbledon Championships receive invitations, including the Lawn Tennis Association and overseas tennis federations. The President of Wimbledon’s neighbouring golf club, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, is also always invited.
Individuals who hold important civic positions or play a key role in British society can often expect a Royal Box invitation. For example, the Governor of the Bank of England, the Home Secretary and the Mayor of Wimbledon are normally present for at least one day. Top diplomats, senior Armed Forces officials, and religious leaders such as the Archbishop of Canterbury are also regularly granted this privilege.
Finally, a small number of seats are reserved each day for special guests whose achievements in sport, entertainment, politics or philanthropy merit this special honour. The challenge for the organisers is fitting all the potential dignitaries into just 74 seats per day over the 13-day tournament. Competition is fierce, meaning those lucky enough to be selected normally remember the experience forever.
Famous Past Occupants
While getting into the Royal Box represents a huge perk for anybody, there are certain individuals who value the opportunity and history more than most. Some of the famous figures lucky enough to watch Wimbledon from these coveted seats include:
- Sir Winston Churchill – Britain’s wartime Prime Minister was a regular Royal Box guest.
- Princess Diana – the tennis-loving ‘People’s Princess’ often attended with her sons William and Harry.
- Nelson Mandela – the President of South Africa was given the honour in 1996.
- Boris Becker – having won Wimbledon three times as a player, Becker returned in later years as a VIP guest.
- Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes – the Hollywood couple sat in the Royal Box together in 2004.
- The Queen and Prince Philip – Queen Elizabeth II has visited the Royal Box for key Wimbledon matches on numerous occasions.
- Daniel Craig and the Duchess of Cornwall – the James Bond star and member of the royal family both watched Roger Federer play Novak Djokovic together in 2014.
Getting to rub shoulders with the rich and famous is just one of the many attractions of being granted access to the Royal Box for a day.
How To Apply for Royal Box Tickets
For those wishing to experience the privilege of sitting in Wimbledon’s Royal Box, the next question is how to apply for tickets. The application process is notoriously opaque and exclusionary. It is not a case of filling out a form and hoping to be successful, as no public application system exists.
Instead, the injunction from the All England Club has always been that Royal Box invitations are solely at their discretion. As they control every aspect of access, the best way to get your foot in the door is by forming connections with the Wimbledon hierarchy.
There are a few approaches which may improve your chances:
Join an Exclusive Private Members’ Club
Many of London’s most exclusive private member’s clubs have a tradition of being invited to take a number of Royal Box tickets each year. These are then allocated to their most prestigious members.
Clubs which historically have enjoyed this privilege include The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (where the Wimbledon Championships are held), The Hurlingham Club, Queen’s Club and The Royal Automobile Club.
Gaining membership at these clubs requires very high social status and wealth. Membership fees can be up to £100,000 just to join, plus annual charges of thousands per year. But for some high net worth individuals, the possibility of Royal Box access makes joining one of these exclusive clubs worthwhile.
Get to Know the Wimbledon Committee
When deciding who to invite into the Royal Box each year, the Wimbledon Committee heavily favour those with whom they have an existing relationship.
Cultivating friendships with these gatekeepers of English tennis high society can be a long-term play. Attending lower-key events at the All England Club throughout the year helps to put your face in front of members and decision-makers. Volunteering for roles within the organisation also builds connections.
While getting onto close terms with the Wimbledon Committee demands great patience and persistence, this insider approach offers the best chances of being looked upon favourably come Royal Box invitation time.
Achieve Standing in Public Life
As mentioned previously, there are certain roles and offices in British society which seem to guarantee a Wimbledon invite. Individuals such as the Governor of the Bank of England, the Home Secretary and the Mayor of Wimbledon can expect inclusion most years due to the importance of their position.
For ambitious entrepreneurs or professionals, attaining these high-ranking civic roles could streamline access to the Royal Box. The challenge is that such public offices are usually reserved for senior figures who have dedicated decades to public service. But for the supremely well-connected, it remains a potential avenue.
Make Large Donations to Wimbledon Causes
Securing Royal Box tickets via pure wealth and generosity is frowned upon by the Wimbledon Committee. They are keen to protect the prestige and privilege of these seats. However, discreet philanthropy focused on the right causes can help boost your profile and standing with the key decision-makers.
The most effective way is donating to the Wimbledon Foundation, the tournament’s official charity. Contributions used to support their education, health and social programmes could bring you to the attention of the Committee. Again, any such donations would need to be made out of genuine interest in the cause rather than as a crass attempt to ‘buy’ access.
Draw on Connections from a Previous Role
Some individuals are fortunate enough to have held past positions which bring Wimbledon hospitality as standard. For example, recent Prime Ministers are usually granted Royal Box access for life as gratitude for their public service.
Similarly, if you held an executive role in a tennis sponsorship partner, you may still receive Royal Box tickets each year even after leaving that job. In such cases, maintaining good relationships during and after your tenure can help secure this privilege long-term.
Apply via Your Company
A limited number of Royal Box tickets are set aside each year for corporate hospitality. Companies who are sponsors, partners or suppliers of the Wimbledon Championships can apply for these.
Businesses such as Slazenger, HSBC, IBM and Rolex may receive a handful of daily Royal Box passes to use for client entertainment. Senior executives or key clients enjoy the benefits rather than rank-and-file employees.
The company route is possibly the ‘easiest’ way into the Royal Box for non-VIPs. But in reality, corporations still require strong existing ties with Wimbledon to access these opportunities.
Royal Box Dress Code
While securing those elusive Royal Box tickets is a monumental task in itself, your work is not over yet. All guests permitted to watch the tennis from these exclusive seats must follow a strict dress code or risk being turned away.
The rules on outfitting are explicitly formal. Ladies are required to wear dresses or skirts with a hemline below the knee. Dresses and tops must have straps of at least one inch width (no strapless garments). Trouser suits are forbidden. Hats or fascinators are encouraged but not compulsory.
For men, Morning Dress is obligatory in the Royal Box. This means a formal black or grey three-piece suit with a black or grey top hat. Shirts must be white or light coloured with a tie. Jackets and trousers cannot be separated.
In other words, lounge suits, polo shirts, jeans, shorts or trainers are completely prohibited. The dress regulations for the Royal Box are equivalent to those for Royal Ascot or other major state/high society events. Security staff will deny entry to anyone not dressed appropriately.
It is also worth noting that the Royal Box has an especially strict policy banning cameras, phones or large bags being brought in. Phones must be switched off rather than just silenced. This rule protects the privacy of the high-profile VIP guests wanting to watch the tennis without distraction. Failing to follow these etiquette guidelines risks ejection from this prestigious seating area.
When to Apply for Tickets
Timing is vital when hoping to secure Royal Box invitations. Wimbledon tickets are highly sought after so the earlier you express interest the better. Contact should be made 9-12 months in advance of the tournament if approaching the Committee directly.
However, this lead time shrinks if relying on membership of an exclusive private club or hospitality from a corporate sponsor. In those cases, you may only learn about ticket availability 1-2 months prior.
Last minute Royal Box tickets do almost never become available. The only exception is occasional tickets returned from cancellations, which the Committee may then redistribute at their discretion. Even then, they mostly offer these to related dignitaries rather than general applications.
While the 13-day Wimbledon fortnight offers several chances to experience the Royal Box, some days are more in-demand than others. Applications spike for Quarters Finals onwards when the championships climax. But any opportunity to access the Royal Box is a huge privilege not to be taken for granted.
Conclusion
To summarise, obtaining those precious tickets into the Wimbledon Royal Box takes a potent mix of prestige, connections and persistence. This is understandably so – with just 74 seats per day available, competition is fierce. Demand vastly exceeds supply.
The All England Club zealously guards access to maintain the mystique and magic associated with the Royal Box. Only royals, high society figures and dignitaries tend to penetrate this elite inner circle.
For most people, getting to watch just one day of tennis from the best seats at Wimbledon remains a lifelong dream rather than achievable reality. But exploring every potential angle requires patience and diplomacy rather than an attitude of entitlement.
Those fortunate few who do gain entry to the Royal Box will cherish the memories forever. So while tickets may seem near-impossible to obtain, respectfully exploring the options is an adventure in itself for determined tennis fans.