The Royal Box fully lived up to its name on Day 12, with a palace-balcony-style assemblage of members of King Charles III’s family, led by HRH The Duke of Kent, the former President of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, who for more than 50 years presented the winners’ trophies on finals’ weekend.
Also present were The Duke’s daughter, Lady Helen Taylor; his sister-in-law, HRH Princess Michael of Kent, and cousin (by marriage) HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, who was accompanied by Lady Sarah Chatto on her second visit to The Championships.
HRH Princess Beatrice represented the younger generation of royals, accompanied by her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi who, through his Italian heritage, could claim a sporting link with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic’s opponent, as proceedings got under way on the Centre Court grass below.
Edo’s father Alessandro competed at the 1972 Olympics in Alpine skiing - the very same winter-sport discipline in which Sinner, who grew up in the Dolomites, was a standout junior champion before he switched skis and poles for rackets and balls.
The Royal Box is also reserved for supporters of tennis from all walks of life, invited by Chairman Ian Hewitt, including executives from the Official Suppliers such as Barclays, American Express and Rolex and key players in the AELTC, the LTA and international tennis associations.
Treated to a day that is guaranteed to offer showstopper tennis was Sir Nicholas Young, Trustee of the Wimbledon Foundation (the charitable arm of the All England Club) and former CEO of the Red Cross, who was awarded the KBE in 2000 for services to cancer care.
On Friday, David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren - and thus fashion royalty - was ushered to his Lloyd Loom wicker chair for a great view of the chair umpires, line officials and Ball Boys and Girls whose uniforms are provided by the clothing brand. Let's hope they all ironed their togs for the occasion.
As rain fell on Day 12, fans thanked heaven for the Centre Court roof, and also for the presence of Sir Cliff Richard, whose spontaneous sing-song in 1996 to entertain the crowds when Rain Stopped Play endures as a legendary Wimbledon cameo.
Had Centre Court not had recourse to its retractable roof and Sir Cliff been tempted to take up the microphone again today, he would have had Jamie Cullum and Katherine Jenkins as impressive accompanying musicians and backing singers.
Perhaps Sir Sam Mendes would have done the honours and directed the production, adding a trumpet solo for his wife Alison Balsom to signal the restart of play.
Guests with their own distinguished sports credentials included Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport and Olympic gold medallist in rowing and athlete Laura Muir, a European and Commonwealth Games 1500m champion.
From tennis, there was the 1987 Wimbledon men’s singles champion Pat Cash - who introduced the victor’s now customary climb up to the players' box (though his was more of a scramble back in 1987); Roger Taylor, a semi-finalist in 1967, 1970 and 1973; and Fred Stolle, singles finalist in 1963, 1964 and 1965, and a former doubles and mixed doubles champion.
Dr Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, added further cultural kudos to the distinguished company, which also included actress and politician The Rt Hon The Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham, Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee; and author and broadcaster Louis Theroux.
Reflecting on a day of semi-final action at Wimbledon - punctuated by lunch, afternoon tea and an evening drink, it was left to actress Felicity Kendal to revisit her 1970s sitcom persona and declare it ‘the good life’!
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