Duchess of Kent's 'row' with Wimbledon officials as her heartwarming request was denied
Statements from both Wimbledon and the duchess were issued at the time
The Duchess of Kent once made headlines after an alleged disagreement with Wimbledon officials over access to the Royal Box.
Katharine, Duchess of Kent, died on September 4 at the age of 92. She was often described as one of the most quietly compassionate members of the British royal family.
But behind her gentle public image, she reportedly once found herself in an emotional clash with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), and nearly walked away from Wimbledon altogether.
Duchess of Kent’s ‘row’ over Wimbledon’s Royal Box
In 1999, the duchess made headlines when it was claimed she was threatening to “boycott” the Royal Box at Wimbledon after being denied a heartfelt request.
Despite being married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, then the President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and having attended the tournament for decades, her attempt to bring a grieving 12-year-old boy into the exclusive Royal Box was reportedly rejected by tournament officials, as reported by the BBC at the time.
The boy was the son of a friend who had recently died. The duchess had hoped to give him a memorable day at Centre Court, it was claimed.
However, her request was reportedly declined in a “curt” letter from then-chairman John Curry. He reminded her of the Royal Box’s longstanding rule: no children outside the royal family.
According to reports the Duchess of Kent was “deeply hurt” by the response. She reportedly considered no longer watching matches from the Royal Box.
John Curry, who died 2024, later issued a public statement. “I regret any unintentional hurt this may have caused Her Royal Highness,” he said.
He added that the decision was not personal but made due to “demand for space in the Royal Box”.
Curry said: “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.”
He also denied that royals were ever limited to one guest: “No royal has been limited to one guest in the past or will be in the future.”
What did the Duchess of Kent say?
Despite the tension, the duchess did not cut ties completely. She returned to Wimbledon in future years, both in a private capacity and occasionally in the Royal Box.
In the aftermath of the disagreement, a representative for the duchess released a statement to clear the air.
They said: “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.”
I regret any unintentional hurt this may have caused Her Royal Highness.
The Royal Box, with its oak-lined seating for around 80 guests, has been a Wimbledon fixture since 1922. Access is by invitation only, extended to members of the royal family, former champions, global dignitaries, and celebrities.
The dress code remains famously strict. Men are required to wear a suit and tie. Meanwhile, women are expected to wear an afternoon dress or formal trousers.
In 2003, the Duke of Kent helped modernise royal protocol by discontinuing the requirement for players to bow or curtsy to the Royal Box, unless the late Queen Elizabeth II or then-Prince Charles were in attendance.
Duchess of Kent at Wimbledon
For over three decades, the Duchess of Kent was the quiet queen of Wimbledon. Her most iconic moment came in 1993, when she famously embraced a tearful Jana Novotná after the Czech player’s devastating loss to Steffi Graf.
“I know you will win it one day, don’t worry,” she whispered, capturing the hearts of viewers worldwide.
When Novotná died in 2017, the duchess paid tribute.
“Jana Novotna was a brave, courageous sweet lady with a wonderful sense of humour,” she wrote. “I am very saddened by the news of her death and all my feelings are with her family. Wimbledon will not be the same without her.”
Read more: Secret message behind Kate Middleton’s Wimbledon appearance
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