The Royal Box is reserved for members of the Royal Family and guests of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and, on Day 3, one of Chairman Ian Hewitt’s guests had particular affinity with Novak, Emma, Andy and co in the business of putting together a series of winning performances in order to hold aloft a glittering trophy. 

Rose Ayling-Ellis may be more used to surveying action in a square - as in Albert - in her role as Frankie Lewis in the landmark soap opera EastEnders, but the actress and 2021 Strictly Come Dancing champion was enjoying all the drama being played out on the legendary rectangle of 100 per cent perennial ryegrass that is Centre Court. 

Ayling-Ellis, who was born deaf, memorably tangoed her way to the Strictly Glitterball Trophy with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice - an achievement which puts her in prime position to advise the prospective Wimbledon champions prior to the traditional dance at the post-Championships dinner.

One of their dance routines included a period of silence as a tribute to the deaf community, which was described by judge Anton Du Beke as ‘the greatest thing I’ve ever seen on the show’.

Du Beke, of course, has his own Centre Court connection as the Strictly partner of Andy Murray’s mum, Judy, back in 2014. 

The Chairman’s Royal Box invitations this year reflect the Club’s desire to recognise people who work towards making global society better for all.

On Wednesday, entertainers, inventors, innovators, activists, tennis administrators and medical experts made up the numbers of those recognised for providing stellar public service in all walks of life - and whose achievements are a source of inspiration and gratitude. 

Photographers on ‘blow-dry watch’ - ie spotting the glamorously coiffed wives and girlfriends in the players’ support seats - already recognise the engineering expertise of Sir James Dyson, whose life-easing inventions range from the vacuum cleaner to the supersonic hair dryer. 

Alongside him were fellow innovators in other fields: Heba Bevan, the founder of smart sensor technology company Utterberry; Ezechi Britton, co-founder and CEO of Code Untapped, a social enterprise assisting people in tech from ethnic minority groups; plus marketing executive Charlotte Butter and A&E doctor Jack Manley, the co-founders of DeliverAid, a digital platform to help provide healthy meals to frontline NHS workers.  

Invitees also featured medical experts whose presence acknowledged society’s debt to their response in helping the world manage the coronavirus pandemic - namely, Dame June Raine, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which was the first agency to approve a COVID-19 vaccine.

And Professor Averil Mansfield, a retired vascular surgeon and former President of the British Medical Association, who was awarded a CBE in 1999 for services to surgery and women in medicine.  

As a diverse and inclusive organisation committed to confronting and eliminating discrimination, the Club was proud to host representatives of charities such as Path to Success - which supports female disabled athletes, founded by Anita Choudhrie - and Activity Alliance, a national charity for disabled people in sport, led by Barry Home. 

There was also a strong contingent of the LTA, past and present, led by President David Rawlinson, past Presidents Derek Howorth and Stuart Smith, Honorary Vice President John James and Board Member Roy Staniland, ready to cheer on Emma Raducanu, who is an ambassador for LTA Youth. 

Minette Batters, President of the National Farmers’ Union, took up a seat to watch Novak Djokovic fend off the challenge posed by the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis - who was supported by compatriots Steve Healy, former President of Tennis Australia, and Adam Cossar, Chairman of Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, known as the ‘spiritual home of Australian tennis’, which this year celebrates 130 years since it was founded in 1892.

John Marks, President of Fitzwillian Lawn Tennis Club of Dublin - itself established in 1877, just nine years after the All England Club - added further historic associations to the party atmosphere in Centre Court’s centenary year. 

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Following along from home this year? You can still experience the classic Wimbledon atmosphere on the Virtual Hill, presented by our Official Partner American Express.