The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by their eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, observed the exhilarating men’s final on the last day of the Wimbledon tournament on Sunday.
The young members of the royal family occupied seats in the front row of the royal box on Centre Court, where they witnessed the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
However, there has been speculation about whether nine-year-old George and eight-year-old Charlotte violated a Wimbledon regulation.
According to widespread reports, it is generally prohibited for children to occupy seats in the royal box. This rule caused distress to the Duchess of Kent in 1999 when she sought permission from the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC) to invite the 12-year-old son of a departed friend to the royal box as a sincere gesture.
Regrettably, the club chairman at the time, John Curry, declined her request and issued an apology, expressing remorse for any unintended distress caused to her Royal Highness. The statement further clarified that due to limited space in the royal box, apart from children of the royal family, other children are not invited to ensure fairness and accommodate worthy individuals who contribute to tennis.
According to the website, invitations to the royal box are extended to the British and overseas Royal Families, heads of government, individuals from the tennis world, commercial partners, the British armed forces, prominent media organizations, supporters of British tennis, and individuals from various walks of life. The Chairman of the All England Club issues the invitations, taking into consideration recommendations from members of The Championships’ Organizing Committee, The Lawn Tennis Association, and other relevant sources.
As per the information provided on Wimbledon’s website, children are welcome to attend the tournament, but there are specific age restrictions for entry into Show Courts such as Centre Court, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, 12, and 18. Babies and young children under the age of five are not permitted in these courts.
On the other hand, children aged five and above but under 16 are allowed entry into all courts if accompanied by an adult and provided they have their own seat.
Last summer, Prince George experienced the tennis tournament for the first time when he was eight years old, while Princess Charlotte made her debut at the Championships on Sunday.
The young members of the royal family clearly exhibit a similar enthusiasm for sports as their parents and were visibly engaged and excited while observing the thrilling final match.
