Which royals could appear in the Wimbledon Royal Box this year and will Prince William and Kate Middleton attend Wimbledon 2023 together?

The Wimbledon Royal Box is where so many famous faces including Kate Middleton and Prince William watch the tournament’s most tense matches.

• Each year members of the Royal Family have attended Wimbledon to cheer on the talented players and 2023 is no exception.
• The Princess of Wales has already made her first appearance, as has Prince Michael of Kent, and other royals could soon step out themselves.
• This royal news comes as Prince William showed his down-to-earth side as he joked with a flirty fan.

From discovering how to watch Wimbledon 2023 to those lucky fans with tickets deciding what to wear to Wimbledon, the return of the Championships has sparked a flurry of excitement once again. With iconic tennis players like Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek competing to lift the coveted trophy at the end of the fortnight to the high-profile attendees there’s so much to take in. Members of the Royal Family have regularly attended over the years and already in 2023 Kate Middleton and Prince Michael of Kent have been spotted in the Wimbledon Royal Box.

This leaves the matter of when and if their fellow royals will attend and if the Princess of Wales could return with Prince William up to speculation. But what is the Royal Box at Wimbledon, who sits there, and which other royals might fans expect to see at the Championships this year?

What is the Wimbledon Royal Box?

The Wimbledon Royal Box is located on the club's iconic Center Court and has 74 seats reserved for use by guests and royals alike. It’s been used since 1922 and has a smart dress code, with suits/jackets and a tie for men, whilst ladies are advised not to wear hats to avoid obscuring the view of the people sitting behind them. Back in 2003 it was decided that the tradition of players bowing or curtsying to the Royal Box when entering or leaving Center Court was to be discontinued. 

However, there were two exceptions to this - when the Queen or Prince of Wales were in attendance. Now King Charles is monarch this might continue with bowing and curtsying only required if he or Prince William were there.

Who sits in the Wimbledon Royal Box? 

Not just anyone can watch the tennis from the Wimbledon Royal Box! Instead, this is reserved for both members of the immediate and extended Royal Family and honored guests of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. As revealed by Wimbledon, invitations from Chairman Ian Hewitt showcase the Club’s desire to recognize those people whose achievements are inspirational and deserve immense gratitude and those who provide outstanding public service.

Which royals could attend Wimbledon this year?

It's not been confirmed which royals will definitely be attending Wimbledon 2023, though so far we've seen the Princess of Wales, Prince Michael of Kent and his daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor. However, as the Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and an avid tennis fan, Kate Middleton is certainly expected to make another appearance during the fortnight. 

The Princess of Wales has excited fans with her attendance in previous years and has held her prestigious role as patron since 2016, taking over from the Queen herself. It’s therefore likely that the Princess of Wales will be returning to the Wimbledon Royal Box during the 2023 tournament.

Prince William is also no stranger to the All England club, having attended regularly alongside Kate, especially on final days. In light of this, it’s expected that he could also make a return appearance at Wimbledon 2023. Their eldest son Prince George is an exception to a Wimbledon rule which states only royal kids are allowed in the Wimbledon Royal Box and he made his debut in 2022 on Day 14. 

Prince George could possibly get another day out at Wimbledon with his proud mom and dad this year. Meanwhile, other royals that have been glimpsed attending Wimbledon previously include several more of the Queen’s grandchildren, many of which could perhaps cheer the players on from the Royal Box once again.

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi excitedly watched the Ladies Semi-Final in 2021, as did Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Although the Duchess didn't make another visit last year, Princess Beatrice did on Day 12 and could possibly attend again in 2023. Zara and Mike Tindall have also attended in the past, though they have been known to watch the action from the stands and not the Royal Box.

When might we see the Royal Family at Wimbledon 2023?

Sadly for anyone hoping to get some serious style inspiration from Kate Middleton’s dresses or to see some sweet interactions between royals, it’s not yet known when specific royals could attend Wimbledon 2023. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren't a few hints about when senior royals such as the Prince and Princess of Wales might show up again this year. Looking back at other Wimbledon championships, it’s likely that Kate Middleton could attend the Ladies Final from the Royal Box.

The Princess has attended this final regularly, including in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. She also returned for the final day of Wimbledon and saw Novak Djokovic in action in the Men’s Final. Prince William and Prince George accompanied her on that occasion and the Prince of Wales also watched the Men's Singles Final in 2018 and 2019.

In 2021 he watched the Ladies' Singles Final and then saw the Men's Singles Final again last year. Given his history of watching these two finals, he might potentially make another appearance at one of them at Wimbledon 2023. 

But it’s not just the semi-finals or finals that could see the royals heading for the Wimbledon Royal Box. The likes of Princess Beatrice and Duchess Sophie have previously  attended in the latter half of the Wimbledon fortnight, but not the finals themselves.

Members of the Royal Family could also perhaps choose to coordinate their visits so as to be able to watch British tennis stars. The likes of Liam Broady, Andy Murray, Katie Boulter are still in with a chance of winning the trophy.

Ultimately, whilst it’s not yet known exactly when the Prince or Princess of Wales or any of their fellow royals might grace the Wimbledon Royal Box, it could be that they wait until later on and keep an eye on British talent as the finals draw closer.