The traditional scent of freshly cut grass, the crunch of strawberries and cream, and the click-whirr of flashbulbs fused into a single chord this July week: Centre Court became both sporting arena and red carpet. The Wimbledon 2025 men’s final was not only a duel of racquets and nerves, but also a parade of titles, decorations, and red-carpet glamour transplanted onto emerald turf. While Jannik Sinner loosened up his serve, the rows of the Royal Box shimmered with diamonds, film awards, and Olympic honours.
Blue Blood and Green Grass
The first violin in the Royal Box was the Princess of Wales, Catherine, patron of the All England Club. Her majesty did not eclipse family warmth: ten-year-old Prince George and eleven-year-old Princess Charlotte confidently upheld the household tradition—this was far from their first Wimbledon. Catherine, who earlier in the week had spoken openly about coping with the after-effects of cancer treatment, looked relaxed yet focused, as if she herself were playing out a break-point rally.
The only reigning monarch in the stands was King Felipe VI of Spain, who had flown in especially to cheer compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, and during the hottest rallies he rose from his seat almost as often as the ball left the racquet. Seated beside him was American legend Stan Smith—the 1972 champion whose name became synonymous with an iconic sneaker.
Iconic Champions Under a Shower of Applause
“Coming back to grass is like coming home,” confessed Andre Agassi, who appeared in an impeccably stylish white suit with a tie in the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s signature purple and green. Beside him sat Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who lifted the trophy thirty years ago and was now rooting for his son Cruz, already through the first round of the junior draw. A few rows back was Johnny Ashe, brother of the legendary Arthur Ashe, who raised the Championship’s coveted cup half a century ago.
A viewer who accidentally glimpsed this grandstand out of context might have thought they’d stumbled into an evening of honour at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Yet for these court heroes, Wimbledon is no retro party but an annual family rite.
Hollywood in the Box: Oscar Winners and Superheroes
Cameras were especially eager to capture faces familiar from the global box office. Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, oozing Texan charm, sported a classic Wimbledon ensemble, while his wife Camila Alves dared to don an elegant hat—a technically forbidden accessory in the Royal Box. Henry Cavill—Kal-El to the world, leading man in the upcoming sci-fi saga “Voltron” to the studios—watched the tie-breaks with the composure of a superhero accustomed to saving universes.
Beside Cavill, Nicole Kidman shone in a bold duet of ivory and pure white—a pairing stylists usually advise against, but rules rarely deter an Oscar winner. Cate Blanchett and Olivia Rodrigo, and Leonardo DiCaprio eschewing dark glasses, all flitted between net and service line in photographers’ lenses, giving the match a touch of awards-night sparkle.
Fashion and Music: A Catwalk Beneath the Tennis Canopy
On the fashion radar, Wimbledon has long vied with Haute Couture Week, and 2025 was no exception. Dame Helen Mirren, in an elegant Ralph Lauren ensemble, embodied a bridge between West End theatre and the silver screen; by her side was Chris Hemsworth, while in the same colour palette supermodel Naomi Campbell stood out, having triumphantly farewelled Balenciaga’s creative director Demna earlier in the week.
The musical front was represented by Klaxons frontman James Righton and fashion incarnate—Anna Wintour. Though stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue, she remains Condé Nast’s global content director, keeping her the industry’s most powerful woman. Her iconic sunglasses, icy gaze, and corporate tie have become almost as symbolic of the tournament as its meticulously mown grass.
Speed, Engines, Balls: Athletes Off the Court
While stamina and precision were sparking on Centre Court, the box seated masters of entirely different speeds. Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel chose casual wear and an ordinary sector, underscoring his egalitarian spirit. His current-grid colleague George Russell, by contrast, appeared in the Royal Box with partner Carmen Montero Mundt. From the NBA world Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker stood out, while the football throne was represented by England midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Such a constellation of athletes underscores the tournament’s status: even for champions of other sports, a visit to the grass major is a badge of prestige equal to lifting a trophy in their own discipline.
Billionaires and Visionaries: Business Class in the Stands
The moment the name Branson was uttered, camera lenses swung towards the court. Richard Branson, who turns 75 next week, seemed to prove that Wimbledon is the perfect place to celebrate an approaching milestone. The manager of his Necker Island once admitted that the job sometimes involves partying with the billionaire’s guests until dawn; this time no extra entertainment was needed—the Centre Court atmosphere did it all.
The financial wing of showbusiness was not to be outdone: Orlando Bloom—famed as Legolas and newly single after ending his relationship with Katy Perry—enjoyed animated conversation with newlyweds Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, whose wedding was the event of the month. The bonds forged on the emerald grass were no weaker than those struck at a business forum.
More Than a Match
When Jannik Sinner hoisted the golden Challenge Cup above his head, the ovation in the box rang as loudly as the chants from the terraces. Wimbledon once again proved that here not only the player who strikes the ball most accurately triumphs, but the tournament itself—a competition that turns a sporting arena into a litmus test for high society. Nothing unites titles, generations, and industries like the game played on emerald grass beneath the London sky. The Royal Box emptied, the floodlights dimmed, yet the faint scent of freshly cut grass and the echo of applause promised: in exactly a year a star landing will return to rewrite the history of the planet’s most prestigious tournament.
