Wimbledon’s Royal Box Welcomes Princess Michael of Kent and Duchess of Gloucester

The prestigious Wimbledon tennis tournament is in full swing, captivating audiences worldwide as players from across the globe compete for the esteemed trophies.

While much attention is focused on the athletes, the Royal Box, hosting the tournament's most exclusive guests, is equally impressive.

On Friday, two royals are expected to grace the private box: Princess Michael of Kent, the wife of Prince Michael, Queen Elizabeth's first cousin, and the Duchess of Gloucester, the wife of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, another of the Queen's first cousins.

Royalty has a longstanding tradition of attending Centre Court, with a rich history of involvement in the event.

Currently, the royal patronage of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is held by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, while Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, serves as the President.

Both regularly attend the tournament, presenting winners' trophies to the champions, often accompanied by their partners, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Kent.

In fact, the Duchess of Kent herself was a familiar face at Wimbledon, even presenting some of the winners' trophies.

However, the Duchess of Kent's relationship with the club reportedly soured due to an incident that occurred during a historic tournament, leaving her deeply hurt.

In 1999, Catherine requested permission to bring a 12-year-old son of a bereaved friend into the Royal Box.

Unfortunately, her request was denied, as non-royal children were not permitted in the private enclosure.

As a result, an alternative seating arrangement was made for the child, and John Curry, the Wimbledon tennis chairman, wrote a note to the Duchess, reminding her of the regulations.

Reports suggested that the letter instructed her to limit the number of guests to one per day.

However, according to the Guardian, the Duchess had been in the habit of inviting three or four guests multiple times during the tournament.

The letter deeply hurt the Duchess, and there were even talks of her boycotting the Royal Box.

In September 1999, the Wimbledon chief apologized to Catherine but maintained the ban.

He expressed regret for any unintentional hurt caused to Her Royal Highness and clarified that no royal had been limited to one guest in the past or would be in the future.

Despite the refusal to change the ban, the Duchess made it clear that she respected the rules.

Her spokesperson stated that she shared the All England Lawn Tennis Club's desire to encourage more children and young people to watch and participate in tennis.

The Duchess of Kent continued to present winners' trophies until 2001, even after her retirement from public life.

One of the most memorable instances was when she consoled Jana Novotna after her loss to Steffi Graf.

Novotna had a chance to win the match but faltered with a double fault on game point while leading 4-1 in the third set.

The Duchess of Kent comforted her, assuring her that she would eventually triumph.

The Duchess's prediction proved correct, as Novotna went on to win Wimbledon in 1998.

This victory remains her sole singles Grand Slam title, although she achieved 16 doubles victories throughout her career.

Venus Williams, the most recent recipient of Catherine's trophy, claimed the title in 2001.

Since then, the Duchess of Kent has been less visible at Wimbledon, choosing a more secluded and quiet life after retiring and relinquishing her HRH title.

As Wimbledon enters its fifth day, spectators eagerly await the matches on South West 19, while the Royal Box welcomes Princess Michael of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester.

The tournament continues to captivate both tennis enthusiasts and royal watchers alike, with its rich history and tradition of hosting distinguished guests.