The Royals at Wimbledon: The Royal Box, the Princess of Wales, and the 2026 Championships

For two weeks every summer, a quiet corner of south-west London becomes the most watched lawn in the world. There are strawberries and cream, the squeak of fresh tennis shoes on grass, and that famous Wimbledon hush before a serve. And there, on the south side of Centre Court, is a set of wicker-green chairs that draws almost as many glances as the tennis itself: the Royal Box.

The royal family and Wimbledon have, in truth, grown up together. The Championships have been graced by kings, queens and a future Princess of Wales for well over a century, and the bond has only deepened. As the 2026 Championships approach — running from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July 2026 — it is the perfect moment to look at how the Crown and the All England Club became such devoted partners, and how you might be there to see it.

A royal love affair that began in 1907

The story starts with a future king. In 1907, the Prince of Wales — soon to be King George V — visited the Championships at the old Worple Road ground, and the royal seal of approval gave the still-young tournament an enormous lift in prestige. When the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club moved to its present home on Church Road in 1922, a dedicated Royal Box was built into the brand-new Centre Court, and it has been the heart of the occasion ever since.

George V did more than lend his name. He and Queen Mary became genuine enthusiasts, and the sight of the monarch in the box turned a sporting fixture into a national event. More than a hundred years on, an invitation to the Royal Box remains one of the most coveted seats in British sport — a small, green-cushioned symbol of just how thoroughly the royal family and the Championships are entwined.

Inside the Royal Box: who sits there, and how you get in

The Royal Box sits on the south side of Centre Court, looking straight down the grass, and holds around 74 guests on each day of the fortnight. Despite the name, it is not reserved for royalty alone. Invitations come from the Chairman of the All England Club and the Committee of Management, and the guest list is a carefully judged mix: members of the royal family, tennis greats past and present, prime ministers, servicemen and women, charity workers, actors and the occasional national treasure.

You cannot buy a seat in the Royal Box, and you cannot apply for one — it is strictly by invitation. What you can do is dress the part, because the box keeps a dress code in keeping with its grandeur. Gentlemen are asked for a lounge suit or jacket and tie; ladies for afternoon dress or an elegant trouser suit. There is one charming rule of practicality, too: ladies are asked not to wear hats, so that nobody seated behind them loses sight of the tennis. It is a small detail that captures Wimbledon perfectly — tradition and good manners, side by side.

Lunch and tea are served to Royal Box guests away from the court, and the comings and goings between games are part of the day’s quiet theatre. For everyone else in the stands, spotting who has been invited each morning has become a beloved ritual of the Championships.

The curtsy that bowed out in 2003

For most of the twentieth century, the Royal Box came with a piece of etiquette that the cameras loved. From 1922, players walking on and off Centre Court were expected to turn and bow or curtsy towards the Royal Box. The very first time, in June 1922, two British players paused to bow to George V before the opening match on the new court, and the custom stuck for the next eighty years.

Then, in 2003, the tradition was gently retired. The Duke of Kent, who served as President of the All England Club for decades, decided that asking every player to bow or curtsy to every royal had become an anachronism. From that year on, the gesture was reserved only for the most senior royals.

Today, players are asked to bow or curtsy only when the reigning monarch or the Prince of Wales is present in the box. It is a neat compromise — the courtesy survives for the very highest occasions, while the players are free to stride straight into battle the rest of the time. When it does happen, that brief, old-fashioned bow towards the green chairs is one of the most quietly stirring sights of the fortnight.

Catherine, Princess of Wales: the Championships’ devoted Patron

No royal is more closely associated with modern Wimbledon than Catherine, Princess of Wales. She became Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club in 2016, taking over the role from Queen Elizabeth II, and she has worn it with obvious affection ever since. A keen tennis player herself, she is a regular in the Royal Box and a familiar, smiling presence at the closing finals.

Her most memorable appearances have come at the very end of the fortnight, when the Patron presents the trophies. In 2024, she handed the gentlemen’s singles trophy to Carlos Alcaraz, and the moment carried extra weight: she was attending during her cancer treatment, and Centre Court rose to its feet in a long, warm standing ovation. She returned again in 2025 to watch the finals, greeted once more by an affectionate roar from the 15,000-strong crowd.

Those scenes say a great deal about why the royal connection endures. The Princess does not simply turn up; she brings genuine warmth and a real love of the game, and the public plainly adores her for it. Her young family has begun to appear too — Prince George and Princess Charlotte have both been spotted enjoying the tennis — which suggests the next chapter of royal Wimbledon is already being written.

Queen Elizabeth II and a century of royal patrons

Behind Catherine stands a long line of royal Wimbledon-lovers. Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of the All England Club from 1952 until 2016 — an extraordinary span of more than sixty years — though, famously, she was a rare visitor in person. She attended only a handful of times across her reign, most memorably in 1957, in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee, and again in 2010, when she watched Andy Murray win and met a line-up of British players.

Other royals filled the Royal Box far more often. The Duke of Kent, as President, was a fixture for decades and long associated with the trophy presentations before that duty passed on. Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and many others have all taken their turn in the green chairs. Together they form an unbroken thread of royal attention that stretches from George V’s first visit right through to the present Prince and Princess of Wales — a continuity that is part of what makes Wimbledon feel less like a tournament and more like a national tradition.

Wimbledon 2026: the key dates and how to be there

If watching the royals — and the world’s finest tennis — appeals, here is what you need to know for next summer.

• The Championships run from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July 2026, the traditional fortnight ending with the gentlemen’s singles final on the second Sunday.
• Qualifying takes place the week before, from around 22 to 25 June, at the nearby Community Sport Centre in Roehampton — and entry to qualifying is free, a lovely insider’s secret.
• The Wimbledon Public Ballot is the main route to tickets, including show-court seats. Applications usually open the autumn before the Championships, so for 2026 the window will have been in late 2025 — worth marking your calendar for future years.
• The legendary Queue is the great democratic tradition of Wimbledon: turn up early (many camp overnight), and a limited number of tickets, including some for Centre Court, are sold each day to those who wait. A Grounds Pass bought this way gives access to the outside courts and the famous atmosphere of the hill.

Prices, the ballot timetable and the latest rules change from year to year, so always check wimbledon.com before you plan. But the essentials never change: arrive early, pack for both sun and showers, and save room for strawberries.

Why the royal connection still matters

In an age when so much sport feels packaged and switched-on, Wimbledon’s royal thread is something rarer — a living link between the present and a summer afternoon in 1907. The Royal Box, the occasional bow, a Princess presenting a trophy with tears in the crowd’s eyes: these are not relics, but small, well-kept traditions that give the Championships their particular grace.

So when the green chairs fill again on the south side of Centre Court next summer, you will know exactly what you are looking at — more than a century of affection between the Crown and a corner of grass, still going strong. Browse our Royal Places & Events stories to discover more of the great occasions where Britain’s royal heritage comes beautifully to life.

Frequently asked questions

When is Wimbledon 2026?

The 2026 Championships run from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July 2026, with the gentlemen’s singles final on the closing Sunday. Qualifying takes place the week before, around 22–25 June, at Roehampton.

Who is the royal Patron of Wimbledon?

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club since 2016. She succeeded Queen Elizabeth II, who held the role from 1952.

How many seats are in the Wimbledon Royal Box?

The Royal Box on Centre Court seats around 74 guests each day. It is located on the south side of the court, looking straight down the grass.

Can you buy tickets for the Royal Box?

No. Seats in the Royal Box are by invitation only, extended by the Chairman of the All England Club and the Committee of Management. They cannot be bought or applied for.

Do tennis players still bow or curtsy at Wimbledon?

Only for the most senior royals. The universal tradition ended in 2003, when the Duke of Kent retired it. Today players bow or curtsy only when the reigning monarch or the Prince of Wales is in the Royal Box.

Did the Princess of Wales present the Wimbledon trophy?

Yes. As Patron, Catherine presents the trophies at the finals. In 2024 she handed the gentlemen’s singles trophy to Carlos Alcaraz, to a standing ovation, and she returned to watch the finals again in 2025.

How can I get Wimbledon tickets for 2026?

Most show-court tickets are allocated through the Public Ballot, which usually opens the autumn before the Championships. You can also join the famous Queue on the day for Grounds Passes and a limited number of show-court tickets. Check wimbledon.com for the current ballot dates and prices.

Did Queen Elizabeth II go to Wimbledon?

Rarely, despite being Patron for over sixty years. Her best-known visits were in 1957, in 1977 for her Silver Jubilee, and in 2010, when she watched the tennis and met British players.

Details such as dates, ticketing and Royal Box arrangements are set by the All England Lawn Tennis Club and can change; figures here are correct as of 2026. For the definitive, current information, see wimbledon.com.