A boxer, a baker and an out-of-this-world guest! Anthony Joshua, Dame Mary Berry and Sir Tim Peake among star-studded names in Wimbledon’s Royal Box

It might sound like the start of a joke but the star power of Wimbledon’s Royal Box is no laughing matter – as sports stars, chefs, and even an astronaut arrived in SW19 ahead of play today. 

As the fifth day of the tennis tournament kicked off on Friday, boxer Anthony Joshua, Dame Mary Berry, and British astronaut Sir Tim Peake led the celebrity arrivals on centre court. 

The Royal Box has this season hosted A-list actors like Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and John Cena, TV adventurer Bear Grylls, and Dragons’ Den mogul Deborah Meaden as well as Princess Beatrice, popstar Olivia Rodrigo, and the newly-knighted Sir David Beckham. 

As the name suggests, the Royal Box often houses members of the Royal Family, notably the Princess of Wales, who is the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

While Prince William is yet to attend a fixture, today’s match between Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and American Taylor Fritz drew an eclectic mix of attendees as well as senior sports administrators and politicians. 

Promoinent faces spotted this afternoon at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club included Gary Lineker, who attended with his son Angus, Ben Fogle, and Sir Cliff Richard. 

The broadcaster, 64, beamed broadly as he was seen wandering the grounds ahead of the third rounds beginning in the men’s and women’s singles.

Dame Mary, 90, matched daughter Annabel, 55, as they both sported stylish floral dresses in complementary shades of blue for the outing.

Meanwhile TV’s Ben Fogle, 51, and stunning wife Marina, 47, both opted for tennis whites as they cosied up for snaps before taking their centre court seats.

Also in attendance today was celebrity chef Marcus Waering with his wife Jane, as the Royal Box hosted a motley crew of celebrities on a sunny day in southwest London. 

Olympic boxer Anthony, who was mobbed by fans upon arrival, was accompanied by promoter Eddie Hearn. The star athlete has not been in the boxing ring since he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois, back in September.

The 35-year-old had elbow surgery in May and is looking to make a return to the ring at some stage later this year.

Friday’s tennis action will see the UK represented in both events, with Cameron Norrie and Sonay Kartal in the men’s third rounds and Emma Radacanu will face Aryna Sabalenka in a powerful match.

In the men’s singles, Italy’s Mattia Bellucci will take on the UK’s Cameron Norrie as Nicolás Jarry of Chile battles it out with Brazil’s Joao Fonseca.

Germany’s Laura Siegemund is set to take on the US’s Madison Keys while France’s Diane Parry will compete against the UK’s Sonay Kartal.

1. Dame Mary Berry

National treasure Dame Mary Berry and her daughter Annabel Bosher are enjoying the sights and sounds of Wimbledon from the Royal Box today.

The TV chef and renowned cookbook author recently celebrated turning 90 years old by announcing the launch of a new cookbook that will be published later this year, marking nearly six decades since her very first one was published.

Mary’s love for cooking began while she was in school and she credits her domestic science teacher Miss Date for encouraging her. 

She has also presented numerous TV cooking shows and was a beloved judge on The Great British Bake Off from 2010 to 2016.

Annabel is the youngest child of Mary and Paul Hunnings, and is a trained cook herself, having trained at the Cordon Bleu.

She went into business with her mother in the 90s to start Mary Berry & Daughter. Annabel has also cooked alongside her famous mother on TV and during roadshows. 

2. Mark Precious 

Another athlete sitting in one of the sought-after spots in the Royal Box today was Mark Precious, a former student at University College in Oxford.

The former field hockey player won the bronze medal with the British team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

3. Deborah Jevans 

British former tennis player Deborah Jevans CBE, 65, has been at the hallowed location numerous times, as a former junior Wimbledon champion.

She also played 10 times in the women’s singles (between 1979 and 1983). Her best result was reaching the fourth round, when she lost to fifth-seeded Virginia Wade.

Ms Jevans also played in the doubles event, reaching the quarter finals of the mixed doubles event in 1978, playing with her future husband and Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett.

She became the first chairwoman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Board in 2023, succeeding Ian Hewitt.

In 2013, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours due to her services to Sport and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games’, when she served as director of sports for the event.

4. and 5. Earl and Countess of St Andrews

George Windsor and his wife, Sylvana Tomaselli, the Earl and Countess of St Andrews, are fans of Wimbledon and regularly attend in the Royal Box.

The Earl is the son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and is a philanthropist and former diplomat who prefers to keep a low profile.

He only makes rare appearances at public events, most recently attending Trooping the Colour with Sylvana. 

However, as per the late Queen Elizabeth II‘s order for only working royals to stand outside for the flypast, the Earl and Countess did not join the family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

George joined the Diplomatic Service after finishing his education and served in New York and Budapest. He later worked in the antiquarian book business for Christie’s auction house.

As part of his philanthropy, the Earl is a patron and trustee of several charities, including 

British former tennis player Deborah Jevans CBE, 65, has been at the hallowed location numerous times, as a former junior Wimbledon champion.

She also played 10 times in the women’s singles (between 1979 and 1983). Her best result was reaching the fourth round, when she lost to fifth-seeded Virginia Wade.

Ms Jevans also played in the doubles event, reaching the quarter finals of the mixed doubles event in 1978, playing with her future husband and Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett.

She became the first chairwoman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Board in 2023, succeeding Ian Hewitt.

In 2013, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours due to her services to Sport and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games’, when she served as director of sports for the event.

6. Professor Brian Cox

Professor Brian Cox, 57, is a world-renowned physicist who is best known for presenting science programmes, particular BBC Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage and the Wonders of… series.

He is also a talented musician, having been a keyboard player for bands like Dare and D:Ream in the past.

Other popular science programmes Brian has presented include the BBC’s long-running Horizon series and In Einstein’s Shadow, as well as Wonders of the Universe and Wonders of Life.

In 2010, he was appointed OBE for services to science. A decade later, he was promoted to CBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the promotion of science.

Brian married Gia, an American TV presenter and writer, in Duluth, Minnesota, in 2003. They share two children, a son from a previous relationship Gia had and their son, who was born in 2009.

7. Jamie Cullum

Popular pianist and jazz-pop singer Jamie Cullum is watching the tennis with his friend and drummer Bradley Webb today.

Jamie, 45, became the UK’s biggest-selling jazz artist of all time in 2003, and has recorded nine studio albums, three compilation albums, and 24 singles throughout his decades-long career.

His album Twentysomething was nominated for a Grammy in 2005.

Jamie has swapped the fields of Worthy Farm in Somerset, where he played a piano set at Glastonbury Festival last weekend, for Centre Court. 

8. Eddie Hearn   

Sports promoter Eddie Hearn is attending Wimbledon alongside Anthony Joshua, ahead of the professional boxer’s much-anticipated fight with Jake Paul.

Eddie, 46, is the chairman of Matchroom Sport – of which his father is the founder – and the Professional Darts Corporation.

He has been promoting Anthony since his professional debut in 2013 and the pair are good friends.

Eddie lives in Billericay, Essex, with his wife Chloe and their two daughters

9. Anthony Joshua 

Anthony’s arrival in SW19 was among the day’s bigger moments as fans flocked to the superstar boxer. 

He picked a smart beige suit, worn over a white shirt, as Anthony happily posed for selfies with eager tournament before making his way to the Royal Box. 

10. Gary and Angus Lineker

Gary Lineker looked in good spirits as he attended day five of Wimbledon at The All England Lawn Tennis Club on Friday, days after issuing another shot at the BBC.

The broadcaster, 64, beamed broadly as he was seen wandering the grounds ahead of the third rounds beginning in the men’s and women’s singles.

The former England football captain, who signed off as Match Of The Day presenter after 30 years last month, was accompanied by his 27-year-old son Angus, who wore a pale blue suit for the occasion. 

11. Sharon Horgan

Irish actress Sharon Horgan and her brother Shane are enjoying the Royal Box at Wimbledon today.

Sharon, 54, is the star of the popular Apple TV+ drama Bad Sisters, in which she stars alongside Eve Hewson and Fiona Shaw.

She is also known for creating the comedy series Divorce, which aired between 2016 to 2019, and Motherland (2016 to 2022).

Sharon is now set to work with Jennifer Aniston in an upcoming Apple TV+ adaptation of Nickelodeon star Jeannette McCurdy’s best-selling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died.

The This Way Up star is attending Wimbledon with her rugby pundit brother Shane, 46. Shane’s rugby career began in 1998, when he debuted for Leinster, and he retired in 2012 due to knee surgery.

12. Timothy Peake

Retired astronaut Tim Peake is enjoying the tennis with his wife Rebecca in the royal box.

The former European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut is the first British astronaut to join the agency. He is also the second astronaut to bear a UK flag patch and the sixth UK-born person to go on board the International Space Station.

Tim revealed that, upon arriving at the International Space Station, he had a bacon sandwich and a ‘surprisingly good’ cup of tea.

In 2016, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to space research and scientific education.

Tim and Rebecca share two sons together.

13. Marcus Wareing

MasterChef judge Marcus Wareing is cutting a dapper figure in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, accompanied by his wife Jane.

The celebrity chef, 55, is an icon of Britain’s fine dining scene, having first startedhis career in none other than the Savoy Hotel at the age of 18.

He and Gordon Ramsay previously worked together, before they fell out spectacularly and embarked on a very public 16-year feud over business.

However, it emerged earlier this year that the culinary greats have now buried the hatchet. In February, they both shared a photograph of them together, with Marcus’ caption reading: ‘It’s been a long time coming’, while Gordon wrote: ‘Dinner with friends.’

Marcus met his wife Jane when he worked as a second chef at Gravetye Manor and she was on reception. They married in 2000, with Gordon as Marcus’ best man, and share three children, Jake, Archie and Jessie.