Royal Box - Wimbledon

Georgesgran

I think a lot of seats about by Companies keepingquiet which maybe the reason for them being empty?
DH’s Company used to part sponsor the French Open at Roland Garros, but very few French employees ever went, so DH asked if a few from other Countries could use the seats. They were happy with that, so we used to meet his colleagues and their wives from the Swedish, German and Italian factories there.

Maybe the Swedes, Germans and even Italians stayed away then this year...

Quote Babamaman Mon 14-Jul-25 14:01:03
Totally agree ! It is no longer a Royal box but a Celebrity or non celebrity freebie rip off let’s be seen box!
I find it disgraceful as the gen. Public have to pay over the odds for tickets (if you’re lucky enough to get any) and there are the profiteers?
Royal box? Nah - has to be ‘peoples box? Why can’t the Royals sit with the people?

If those in royal box are invited checks can be carried out surely?

Totally agree ! It is no longer a Royal box but a Celebrity or non celebrity freebie rip off let’s be seen box!
I find it disgraceful as the gen. Public have to pay over the odds for tickets (if you’re lucky enough to get any) and there are the profiteers?
Royal box? Nah - has to be ‘peoples box? Why can’t the Royals sit with the people?

about?? are bought!

I think a lot of seats about by Companies keepingquiet which maybe the reason for them being empty?
DH’s Company used to part sponsor the French Open at Roland Garros, but very few French employees ever went, so DH asked if a few from other Countries could use the seats. They were happy with that, so we used to meet his colleagues and their wives from the Swedish, German and Italian factories there.

Royals yes. Wimbledon star players yes. But why do they let all these so-called A-listers in?

Anniebach

Difficult , should one child be allowed but many refused ?

Exactly. It's tricky.

But I do understand the why.

Difficult , should one child be allowed but many refused ?

Not sure if anyone has mentioned the Duchess of Kent but she'd been very involved in the tournament for many years and would award the trophy to the winner/runner up.
One year the late Jana Novotna was so very upset after coming second and the Duchess hugged her, which wasn't the norm in those days

Wimbledon refused a request from the Duchess to allow the 12 year old son of a bereaved friend to sit in the Royal Box with her. I don't think she ever sat in the Royal Box again

In 1999, the Duchess was refused permission to seat the 12-year-old son of a bereaved friend in the Royal Box at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Alternative seating outside the box was offered. She later received what The Daily Telegraph reported in a front-page story was a "curt letter" from club chairman John Curry, reminding her that children, other than members of the royal family, were not permitted in the Royal Box

Rules are rules I suppose but maybe they could have made an exception

I have enjoyed the tournament this year- becoming less interested now as it goes on.

I have noticed lots of empty seats though, even for the bigger matches, and wonder why this is?

I have no interest who sits where...

It that how British medal winner Olympians live ?

And then resumed accursed privilege,
Which goes with women and champagne and bridge,
But then democracy resumed her reign,
Which goes with women, bridge and with champagne!

(Slightly misquoted I think, but you get the point, no?)

DH and I were in the Royal Box, three seats away from the then Prince Charles and the young Princes at a music event.

There is no way we could have resold our tickets.

Loobs

I remember when I was at senior school in the late 60's and lived near to Wimbledon. We would simply turn up outside the grounds at around 4 o'clock and people would hand us their tickets as they left, I got to watch some great matches for free.

DDs and friends used to bunk off school and do this! Shame it’s no longer allowed.

You are correct. The income from resold tickets is donated to the Wimbledon Foundation.

That’s very nice, but as registering for eligibility to go on the resale list closes at 2.30 pm and you have to already be in possession of a ground pass that rules out schoolgirls like loobs and me from ever enjoying the experience we had

Why do some people always mention the Beckhams? And Lesley60 didn’t even mention his tattoos! 😂

PamelaJ1

Well I have been in the Royal Box at the Albert hall. Does that count?
If the Royals aren’t using it they let their staff take advantage of the good view. My friend worked on one of their estates.
You do have to behave re. eating and drinking though. All around us were hospitality boxes where all sorts of delicious food and drink was being enjoyed. Not in ‘our’ box!
I always thought the ££ from resold tickets at Wimbledon went to charity. Ami wrong?

You are correct. The income from resold tickets is donated to the Wimbledon Foundation.

Well I have been in the Royal Box at the Albert hall. Does that count?
If the Royals aren’t using it they let their staff take advantage of the good view. My friend worked on one of their estates.
You do have to behave re. eating and drinking though. All around us were hospitality boxes where all sorts of delicious food and drink was being enjoyed. Not in ‘our’ box!
I always thought the ££ from resold tickets at Wimbledon went to charity. Ami wrong?

You have your seat for the day. So food and comfort breaks may look like empty seats but only temporary.

I’d give up my seat willingly.

Loobs

I remember when I was at senior school in the late 60's and lived near to Wimbledon. We would simply turn up outside the grounds at around 4 o'clock and people would hand us their tickets as they left, I got to watch some great matches for free.

Me too! Straight from school and hang about looking hopefully. The officials would often point us out to people leaving to pass their tickets on. I’m not sure when attitudes changed and Wimbledon decided they’d prefer to re-sell tickets that had already been paid for in full, often at extortionate prices. Very mean spirited.

Loobs

I remember when I was at senior school in the late 60's and lived near to Wimbledon. We would simply turn up outside the grounds at around 4 o'clock and people would hand us their tickets as they left, I got to watch some great matches for free.

I bet most of the "celebs" don't show the slightest interest in tennis for 50 weeks of the year.

I had a lovely, lovely Aunt who had the right "contact" and for about 6 consecutive years her & I used to go. It would either be Centre or No. 1 court. Never for the finals and generally it would be Week 1 but we were very happy with that as you often got the top players on the outside courts in the first week.

We always handed out tickets back in when we left, although there were times we hung on right to close of play.

All those lovely bronzed Australians in their tennis whites - ah, thems were the days

pooger24

And why don’t ppl have a chance to give their seats to ppl who are watching the screens outside the courts when they leave? It’s outrageous that there are empty seats in the royal box and all around the court. Wish we could do something about it

The court officials do their best to prevent it. I won 2 centre court seats, but my mother was ill, so we had to leave half way through the final a few years ago. I saw a young girl with her mum outside - they had been unable to get on to the hill.

I gave them the tickets, but had to tell them exactly where the seats were, because if you did not know, they would not let you back in.

The official on the gate asked me for my tickets and was very cross when I told her I had put them in the bin. She said they could have been sold on.

I remember when I was at senior school in the late 60's and lived near to Wimbledon. We would simply turn up outside the grounds at around 4 o'clock and people would hand us their tickets as they left, I got to watch some great matches for free.

And why don’t ppl have a chance to give their seats to ppl who are watching the screens outside the courts when they leave? It’s outrageous that there are empty seats in the royal box and all around the court. Wish we could do something about it