The Duchess of Kent once made headlines by 'threatening to boycott' the Royal Box at Wimbledon after clashing with officials over one of its many strict regulations. Katharine, Duchess of Kent, is the wife of the late Queen's cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
The Duke had been President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) for a staggering 50 years until stepping down in 2021, after which he was succeeded by Catherine, Princess of Wales. Despite her longstanding ties with SW19, the Duchess fell out with the tournament's organisers in 1999 when they denied her request to allow a 12-year-old boy, the son of a friend who had passed away, into the highly exclusive Royal Box. The Telegraph reported that the Duchess received a 'curt letter' from then-club chairman John Curry, who passed away in October 2024.
Her well-intentioned gesture was met with a reminder that the Royal Box was off-limits to children outside the Royal Family. In response, the Duchess reportedly considered boycotting the iconic Centre Court Royal Box, which has been a fixture since 1922, feeling 'deeply hurt' as a devoted patron of the club.
Curry extended an apology to the now 92-year-old Duchess but refused to bow down to her pressure. His statement read: "I regret any unintentional hurt this may have caused Her Royal Highness."
He also discussed the contents of his letter, explaining that he had expressed gratitude for her longstanding support at Wimbledon but also "reconfirmed our guidelines concerning the invitation of additional guests and the subject of children".
He explained the decision to restrict non-Royal children from the Royal Box, stating: "Because of demand for space in the Royal Box, we also ask that, apart from children of the Royal Family, children are not invited as they exclude other worthy people from attending, many of whom contribute to tennis."
However, he denied claims that the Duchess was limited to inviting only one guest per day, clarifying that: "No Royal has been limited to one guest in the past or will be in the future."
As a long-time regular at Wimbledon, Katharine had become a familiar face, even presenting winners' trophies -a role now also undertaken by Catherine, Princess of Wales. Despite the falling out, the Duchess has since been spotted in the Royal Box on several occasions.
A representative for the Duchess of Kent at the time issued a statement, saying: "The Duchess has asked me to make clear that she respects the rules and regulations of the All England Lawn Tennis Club with whom she shares a wish to encourage more children and young people to watch and participate in tennis.
"She has also asked me to say that, as in previous years, she is much looking forward to attending next year's championships and the next Davis Cup matches."
Access to the oak-lined section at the south end of Centre Court is strictly by invitation only, reserved for adult guests of the Royal Family, tennis stars, and "individuals of distinction and others who in various ways contribute to the betterment of our lives and society".
The exclusive area can accommodate around 80 people and comes with its own set of rules, including a stringent dress code. Men are required to wear a suit and tie, while women should opt for an afternoon dress or chic trouser suit. Women are asked not to wear hats, as they can block the view for other guests.
This year's Wimbledon has already seen a host of celebrities gracing the Royal Box. Among the famous faces spotted were Sir David Beckham, Anthony Joshua, Gary Lineker, Olivia Rodrigo, Russell Crowe and John Cena.
In 2003, the Duke of Kent modernised the Royal association with Wimbledon by discontinuing the long-standing tradition of Centre Court players bowing or curtseying to the Royal Box. The only exception would be if Her Majesty the Queen or Charles, then-Prince of Wales, were present.
Katharine wed Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, in 1961. The Duke is the son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V and the younger sibling of Edward VIII and George VI.
