Some of the biggest names in tennis have crashed out of Wimbledon 2024, but for the players left in the tournament, the stakes are higher than ever.

And as the action heats up on Centre Court with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina taking on Ukrainina star Elina Svitolina, the coveted Royal Box once again holds the best seats in the house.

However, spectators who hoped to see Novak Djokovic, who lost his temper with the Wimbledon crowd earlier this week, take on Alex de Minaur have been left disappointed after the latter was forced to pull out of his match due to injury. 

Nonetheless, where viewers at home and in SW19 may have missed out on some of the action, they were instead were treated to an afternoon of celeb-spotting in the royal box, where guests in the exclusive spectating area range from masters in the arts and music, to former tennis players; to religious leaders – and even a touch of royalty.

Here, FEMAIL scans the most exclusive seats in Wimbledon to find out who has been lucky enough to catch all the action…

1. Harriet Sperling

Harriet Sperling is an NHS nurse who has hit headlines in recent months due to her budding romance with Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips.

The couple, whose romance blossomed weeks after the King’s nephew separated from his partner of three years, have been at a string of high society events together in recent weeks, including a tactile display at Royal Ascot.

In May, the couple spent the weekend together at the Badminton Horse Trial where they were spotted strolling hand in hand.

Harriet is said to bear a striking resemblance to his ex-partner Lindsay Wallace, 43, and his ex-wife Autumn Kelly, 46. 

In 2010, Harriet was a key member of a team of medics, doctors and clinicians who helped save the life of a critically ill baby named Phineas after he was struck down by a deadly virus aged just three weeks.

She featured among a unique tribute created by Phineas’ photographer father Michael Cockerham. 

2. Peter Phillips

Peter Phillips, 46, is the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips; and the brother of Zara Tindall.

Although Peter’s 43-year-old sister and her husband, rugby ace Mike, were also in attendance at Wimbledon today, they did not join Peter in the royal box on this occasion.

Peter, who is not a working royal, is a sports fanatic known to enjoy several different sports, including Formula 1 (making an appearance at Silverstone this weekend) and golf – having taken part in charity tournaments organised by his brother-in-law.

Peter is a father of two daughters, Savannah, 14, and Isla, 12, whom he shares with his ex wife Autumn.

Although the couple are now divorced, they remain firm friends as they co-parent the girls – and Canadian-born Autumn still attends events with Peter, Zara and Mike. 

3. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

Justin Welby is an Anglican Bishop who has been the Archbishop of Canterbury since 2012. 

Prior to this appointment, he was Bishop of Durham from 2011-2012 and Dean of Liverpool from 2007-2011.

In December 2023, the Archbishop of Canterbury was named in King Charles’s New Year’s Honours list. 

Before being ordained, Welby’s background was in business and finance. 

Sitting in the royal box today, he was accompanied by his wife Caroline. 

4. Deborah Jevans

Deborah Jevans, 64, is a former England tennis star who played in 10 Grand Slam competitions between 1979 and 1983.

She is married to Andrew Jarrett, a former tennis player and Wimbledon referee, with whom she played mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 1978, reaching the quarter finals.

Deborah became Vice-Chair of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in July 2023.

She was appointed CBE in 2013 for services to sport and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

5. Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla flew the flag for the very top of the monarchy today as she attended Wimbledon without King Charles.

The Queen, 76, has been a constant public presence within the monarchy throughout the year since the King was diagnosed with cancer in January.

While Charles, 74, took time out for chemotherapy, Queen Camilla became the face of the royal family at public events; particularly in the absence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

On her visit to SW19 today, the Queen met former players Jamie Delgado and Laura Robson, as well as ball boys and girls.

She appeared in her Anna Valentine dress which contains a giraffe pattern – a wardrobe staple she first wore on her state visit to Kenya with the King last year.

6. Annabel Elliot

Annabel Elliot, 75, is Queen Camilla’s younger sister and the mother of former Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party Ben Elliot.

An interior designer and antiques dealer, Annabel lives in Dorset where her business Annabel Elliot Interior Design is based.

As attendant to the Queen, Annabel had a highly visible role in the Coronation of King Charles in 2023.

7. William Hague

William Hague, who could be spotted in the royal box with his wife Ffion, is the former leader of the Conservative Party from 1997 until 2001.

No longer an MP and instead sitting in the House of Lords, Hague has, in more recent years, turned his focus to international relations – notably teaming up with Angelina Jolie to advocate for survivors of sexual violence in conflict.

Away from his own political career, Hague has authored books on both William Wilberforce and William Pitt.

8. Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley burst onto the big screen in the early 2000s with movie roles including Jules in comedy Bend it Like Beckham.

The actress, from Teddington, then went on to cement herself as a leading lady for any period drama going – including standout roles in Atonement and Pride and Prejudice. 

She also became Orlando Bloom’s love interest in the Pirates of the Caribbean films which introduced her to an international audience. 

The 39-year-old has more recently starred in gritty dramas including Official Secrets in 2019, where she played an MI5 whistleblower.

The same year as the film’s release, the actress revealed she didn’t want to star in any more big-budget films because she didn’t enjoy ‘the fame that comes with them’. 

9. Jemima Khan

Jemima Khan, 50, who attended with actor Richard E. Grant, is an English journalist and the founder of television production company Instinct Productions.

She was an associate editor at the New Statesman and European editor-at-large for Vanity Fair magazine.

She married Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and former cricketer, in 1995 but the pair divorced in 2004.

Jemima is the sister of politician Zac Goldsmith and financier and environmentalist Ben Goldsmith.

10. Richard E. Grant

Swaziland born English actor and presenter Richard E Grant, 67, rose to fame in the 1980s thanks to his titular role in the film Withnail and I.

Grant has appeared in a number of television programmes, including Doctor Who and Downton Abbey.

In 2022, he published his memoir A Pocketful of Happiness which was mostly written while his late wife, voice coach Joan Washington, was suffering with lung cancer.

11. James Righton

Dressed in a brown suit and sporting sunglasses, James Righton, 40, held hands with wife Keira Knightly as the couple posed for photographs.

A member of English new rave band the Klaxons until the group separated in 2015, Righton released his first solo album, The Performer, in March 2020.

12. Graeme Souness

Graeme Souness, 70, is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.

A former Sky Sports football pundit, he has joined ITV to cover the Euro 2024. He also writes for the Daily Mail and MailOnline.

Souness was Liverpool captain for three seasons before his departure in 1984 and went on to become player-manager for Rangers.

He was widely praised for leading the club to three Scottish titles and four league cups.

13. Feargal Sharkey 

Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, who fronted punk band The Undertones in the 1970s and 1980s, attended with his wife Elizabeth.

Sharkey went on to have a career as a solo artist and is best known for his 1985 number one single ‘A Good Heart’.

He is an outspoken environmentalist who has campaigned widely to prevent untreated sewage from being dumped into UK waterways.

In 2019, Sharkey was appointed OBE for services to music.

14. Bjorn Ulvaeus

Another music legend in today’s Royal Box is Bjorn Ulvaeus – best known as 1/4 of Swedish pop band ABBA.

The Swedish musician, 79, formed a songwriting alliance with Benny Andersson, before his partner Agnetha Fältskog and Benny’s partner Anni-Frid Lyngstad joined to form the band that is now one of the most successful of all time.

Today Bjorn was spotted in the Box with Christina Sas, 51, his new partner

15. Mark Carney

Just off to the right of the Royal Box was Canadian economist and former governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, 59.

After leaving the Bank of England in 2020, Carney joined Brookfield Asset Management as head of impact investing.

He is now the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance.