Why Royal Siblings Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips Didn’t Sit Together at Wimbledon
British royals Zara Tindall, 43, and her brother, Peter Phillips, 46, went to Wimbledon on the same day but didn’t sit together. The reason? Because there was something outside their roles as members of the British royal family reportedly in play. Ahead, why Zara and her husband, Mike Tindall, were nowhere near Phillips at the tennis tournament.
Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips’ day at Wimbledon
Phillips and Zara went to Wimbledon on July 10, 2024. It marked the siblings’ first joint appearance since their mother, Princess Anne, sustained a head injury following an incident believed to have involved a horse at her Gatcombe Park home on June 23, 2024.
However, the “joint” part ended there. The brother and sister, who are the oldest of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren, didn’t sit together courtside. Instead, Zara and her husband, Mike, sat in one area while Phillips, who was joined by his new girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, sat in another.
Zara sat in Rolex-reserved seats, Peter sat in the Royal Box
It seems Wimbledon wasn’t a “You can’t sit with us” moment reminiscent of Mean Girls for Zara and her brother. According to Express, Zara is a Rolex brand ambassador.
So, when it came to attending the tournament, she sat in seats reserved for brand guests, a move the outlet described as being “influenced” by one of her “roles outside of the family.”
Meanwhile, Peter and his girlfriend sat with Queen Camilla in the Royal Box, where they chatted, smiled, and waved before the match got underway.
The Royal Box is a “prestigious” and very exclusive seating area at Wimbledon, per the Mirror. Entry is by invitation, and there are only 74 seats available.
It’s not limited to British royals. How it works is the chair of the All England Club—the organization that hosts the tournament—distributes invites.
According to the official Wimbledon website, suggestions can be submitted by members of the Championships’ Organising Committee and the Lawn Tennis Association, among others.
As a result, other notable guests, ranging from TV personalities and government officials to tennis greats, end up in the Royal Box. But it doesn’t come without a few rules. Those seated in the Royal Box are asked not to wear hats and follow a “smart” dress code.
Other British royals at Wimbledon
The Tindalls, Phillips, and Queen Camilla aren’t the only British royals to make an appearance at the famed tennis tournament. Other members of the royal family have gone to Wimbledon, too.
Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Michael of Kent, and Lord Frederick Windsor were in the stands. Princess Beatrice, 35, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, went to Wimbledon on July 9, 2024. They sat in the front row of the Royal Box at Center Court, watching the men’s singles quarterfinal.
The question remains as the tournament heads into the weekend: will Kate Middleton become one of the many royals to show up? A Wimbledon boss previously said they weren’t giving up hope. Although as the trophy ceremonies near—the Princess of Wales usually hands them out—they’ve reportedly started on a contingency plan.
