The 2026 Wimbledon Championships began Monday with a notable gathering of celebrities and public figures in the tournament's prestigious Royal Box. Among the attendees were Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, and football icon David Beckham.
The Duke of Kent, 90, the oldest living blood relative of the British Royal Family, was present at the All England Club. He was accompanied by David Beckham, who brought his mother, Sandra, to the event. Other guests included Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry, television presenter Tess Daly, and singer Ronan Keating.
The Royal Box serves as a prime viewing location for esteemed guests, attracting individuals from the worlds of sport, entertainment, and high society.
More than 9,000 fans queued for tickets on the opening day, with 45,000 spectators expected at the grounds. The tournament anticipates a total of half a million attendees over its two-week duration.
Elsewhere on the courts, British tennis player Emma Raducanu, 23, withdrew from her scheduled match on Court One due to a leg injury, later revealed to be a stress fracture. Despite this, the atmosphere remained lively, with fans lining up for tickets and traditional Wimbledon fare.
Several other prominent figures were identified in the Royal Box, including Deborah Jevans, Chair of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and former player. BAFTA winner Robert Aramayo, known for his acting roles, also attended, as did Lady Susan Hussey. Academy Award winner Sir Mark Rylance and Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins, accompanied by her husband Andrew Levitas, were also in attendance. Ronan Keating and his wife Storm, Tess Daly with her business partner Gayle Lawton, and weather presenter Carol Kirkwood were among the other notable guests. Various figures from sports administration, including David Haggerty, President of the International Tennis Federation, and Roy Colabawalla, President of the Lawn Tennis Association, were present. Others included Lord and Lady Deighton, former field hockey player Mark Precious, TV presenter Alexander Armstrong and his wife Hannah, celebrity chef Michael Caines, and former newspaper editor Tom Hunt. Paul Barber OBE, Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Labour Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, and Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, also occupied seats in the Royal Box. Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Australian entertainment executive Matthew Stanton, Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner, and DONS Local Action group co-founders Craig Wellstead and Xavier Wiggins were also noted attendees. Rupert Hampel, Executive Vice President of IMG Media, was present with family members. The Duke of Kent's private secretary, Nick Turnbull, and his personal assistant, Gill Pearson, were also in attendance. Eric Babolat, owner and CEO of Babolat, and former English tennis player Mark Cox with his wife Lorraine, were among the guests. Golf player Rachel Gilman also took her seat in the stands.