On the 13th day of the 137th Championships at the All England Club, one thing was for sure: an eighth different name in as many editions would be added to the Ladies’ Singles Champion roll call and presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish.

Who would follow Serena Williams, Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Ash Barty, Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova to be crowned the top female performer of 2024 in the cathedral of tennis?

With pride and hope, the ambassadors from the home nations of both contenders came to honour the achievements of Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini – Her Excellency Marie Chatardova from the Czech Republic and His Excellency Inigo Lambertini of Italy, respectively.

In the absence of any bona fide HRHs in the Royal Box for ladies’ final day, a glittering parade of tennis royalty added the lustre to proceedings – a gathering of former Wimbledon ladies’ singles champions with no fewer than 20 titles between them.

Chronologically, first up was Angela Mortimer Barrett, the 1961 champion and the longest still surviving recipient of the Venus Rosewater Dish.

‘Mort’, as she used to be known, sat amicably alongside Christine Janes, the player she defeated 63 years ago in the first all-British ladies’ final since 1914. (There hasn’t been another one since.)

The 92-year-old would have been happy to catch up with Sue Barker, doyenne of BBC sports hosting and a semi-finalist here, who recently published her reminiscences about her experiences in SW19, entitled Wimbledon: A Personal History (available in the Wimbledon Shop).

Mortimer and Barker were both coached – though decades apart – by the legendary, pipe-smoking Arthur Roberts, who drilled his charges at the Palace Hotel in Torquay.

Ann Jones, champion in 1969, when she defeated Billie Jean King having lost to her two years earlier, took the title count to two.

BJK can rightfully be considered queen of the day as the original founder of the Women’s Tennis Association, which enables women to pursue a professional career in the sport.

Of her 20 Wimbledon titles, six came through claiming dominance in the singles draw across 10 years in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973 and 1975.

So that’s eight.

Or ‘EIGHT!’ as former ballerina and Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell might have exclaimed, raising a score paddle…

A sight very familiar to fellow guest Johannes Radebe, who came close to glitterball glory with former Wimbledon junior champion Annabel Croft.

The big-hearted dancer and choreographer boasts further impeccable Wimbledon credentials. At the Chelsea Flower Show in May, JoJo wore a two-piece outfit crafted from drought-resistant flowers to support WaterAid, a charity partner of the All England Club.

With Martina Navratilova, the title tally rocketed up from eight to 17, mirroring the athletic energy and fizz that characterised her game on the grass. Nine titles! And they say winning Wimbledon once changes a player’s life forever...

Were it not for fellow guest Conchita Martinez, Martina could have had 10. The Spaniard’s invitation from All England Club Chair Deborah Jevans marks the 30th anniversary of her against-all-odds record-preventing triumph in 1994.

Celebrating 20 years since her victory as a teenager, Maria Sharapova pushed the Royal Box title count to 19, with Marion Bartoli, the 2013 champion, ringing in number 20.

Players’ emotions in an all-action Wimbledon final range from exhilaration to a sense of dread, via valiance, hope and despair – a repertoire familiar to the onlooking achievers on stage and screen Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale and Sir Sam Mendes.

Were it not being staged in the hushed atmosphere of Centre Court, the drama would call for a soundtrack. Some trumpet blasts, dramatic drum rolls and poignant ballad perhaps? Cue, the talents of singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and trumpet soloist Alison Balsom (Lady Mendes).

Last year, The Championships reached an audience of 25.6 million courtesy of coverage from the BBC, whose Chair Dr Samir Shah and Director-General Tim Davie took seats alongside the corporation’s former Director of Sport Barbara Slater, who earned a day in the Royal Box following her retirement in March.

Other tennis-loving luminaries witnessing the arrival of the newest title holder in the Centre Court precincts on 13 July 2024 included Lioness Jill Scott; the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson; and former Director General MI5, The Right Honourable The Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller.

Wimbledon would not be Wimbledon were it not for the impeccable on-the-ground organisation provided by members of the armed forces. The ranks of the service stewards were represented by Major General James Bowder, Admiral Sir Ben Key, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton and General Sir Roland Walker.

Ladies’ finals day was also a date to celebrate for Nick Pearce. The former Chief Steward of The Championships’ characterful Honorary Stewards became only the eighth recipient of a Distinguished Service Award, presented by the AELTC for outstanding contributions to The Championships.

Previous recipients include Sue Barker; Tony Gathercole, who ran the Last 8 Club; Alan Little, who founded the Wimbledon Library; and Honor Godfrey, curator of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum – where the victor of today’s final was destined to be commemorated for ever.