There is always intense focus on the tight-knit group of family members, professional support and general entourage in the Players’ Boxes on the final day of action at The Championships.
On Day 14 of the 137th Championships, the Royal Box projected a parallel, heartwarmingly familial feel as Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, making only her second public appearance since announcing she was undergoing treatment for cancer, took up her place as Patron of the All England Club in a regal purple dress.
Greeted with a warmly welcoming standing ovation, she was accompanied by her daughter HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales and sister Pippa Matthews.
The royal sorority was joined by the Princess’s inner circle: her private secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Tom White; her assistant private secretary, Natalie Barrows; and Lee Thompson, communications secretary at Kensington Palace.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, accompanied by son and daughter-in-law Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, completed the royal party.
And what a party it was for this epic men’s singles final. ‘Always Like Never Before’ is The Championships slogan, so what would this replay of the gladiatorial 2023 contest conjure?
Touchingly, another guest of All England Club Chair Deborah Jevans was Lindsey Burrow, the widow of Rob Burrow CBE, the rugby league player who died last month of motor neurone disease.
Chrissie Evert, freed of commentary-box duties on this rare occasion, took up a seat to mark the 50th anniversary of the first of her three ladies' singles titles (1974, 1976, 1981). Like the Princess, the ‘queen of the courts’ was accompanied by her younger sister, Clare Evert-Shane.
Depending on which camp of fans you asked, the mission of both defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and seven time title-holder Novak Djokovic was deemed impossible before a racket had swung.
But who better to have in the house than Tom Cruise, producer and star of the Mission: Impossible series, when you need to look up and find that extra micro-percentage of inspiration or assess your position through dead reckoning?
In the first set Benedict Cumberbatch was a potential Sherlock-style talisman for Djokovic as he tried to crack the case of a seemingly indomitable opponent.
Also on the guest list was American cinematographer Dan Moder accompanied by his wife, who movie buffs will know is Julia Roberts, whose career is a Glam Slam of leading-lady roles.
Both competitors were supported by a diplomatic posse from their home nation. His Excellency Jose Pascual Marco Martinez and Secretary of State for Home Affairs Fernando Grande-Marlaska represented the Iberian Peninsula.
Katarina Milenkovic, Charges d’Affaires, represented the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia.
Also on parade was a veritable hall of fame of Wimbledon men’s champions stretching from Ken Rosewall, whose first of four titles came in 1954, to Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
The panoply of greats included Rod ‘The Rocket’ Laver, Stan ‘Some people think I’m a shoe’ Smith, Jan Kodes who prevailed in 1973, Stefan Edberg, the Centre Court nemesis of Boris Becker, and Andre Agassi, who needs no introduction.
Former Club Chairmen Philip Brook, Tim Phillips and Ian Hewitt were also present to witness history in the making, alongside Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, and Club Vice-President Sir Ronald Hampel.
Stephanie Peacock was quick off the mark with her new brief as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Alongside her was Sadiq Khan. The Mayor of London pitted his own skills on the All England Club grass back in 2020. During that cancelled edition of The Championships, Wimbledon opened up its courts to key workers in a ‘Rally Together’ initiative to thank them for efforts during the pandemic.
