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Monday, July 8, 2013

Who's who in the Royal Box: Your guide to the royals, film stars, former champions and political heavyweights who cheered on Andy


  • .Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler rubbed shoulders with golfer Justin Rose and former tennis greats
  • .Victoria Beckham watched alongside Tana Ramsay as Murray stormed to victory over Novak Djokovic
  • .Prime Minister David Cameron, First Minister Alex Salmond and Labour leader Ed Miliband watched the action
  • .Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic was also in the Royal Box to cheer on the triumphant Scot's opponent

Hollywood A-listers sat shoulder to shoulder with political leaders, sporting stars and a certain Spice Girl turned fashion mogul in a Royal Box heaving with household names as Andy Murray battled his way to victory at a sweltering SW19 yesterday.
As the Scotsman beat the world number one Novak Djokovic to become Wimbledon champion in a gripping straight sets victory, he was roared on by everyone from Victoria Beckham to Hangover-star Bradley Cooper, and Wayne Rooney to David Cameron.
Wimbledon legend Rod Laver, who claimed victory at the All England Tennis Club no less than four times during his career, sat next to Labour leader Ed Miliband, while WAG Colleen Rooney and actress and model Suki Waterhouse added to the glamorous female contingent absorbing all the action on Centre Court.
Film stars and political heavyweights rubbed shoulders with musicians and sporting stars in the Royal Box at Wimbledon
Household names: Film stars Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler took their seats alongside Victoria Beckham and Prime Minister David Cameron to watch from the Royal Box as Andy Murray stormed to victory at Wimbledon
As the eyes of the country focused on this small corner of South West London yesterday afternoon, the best seats in the house were reserved for an eclectic mixture of high-profile fans.
 
Many of those taking their seats in the Royal Box were former players who once reigned supreme on Wimbledon's grass courts themselves; from American Stan Smith - who held the trophy aloft in 1972 - to Spaniard Manuel Santana, who was crowned champion in 1966. Former British number one Greg Rusedski also brought along wife Lucy Connor to enjoy all the action courtside.
Colleen Rooney chose an appropriate shade for watching the tennis in sweltering temperatures
Spice Girl turned fashion mogul Victoria Beckham kept her cool in a skimpy dress on Centre Court
Glamour: Upping the glamour stakes in the Royal Box were Victoria Beckham, who kept her cool in a black dress as she took her seat next to Gordon Ramsay's wife Tana, and Colleen Rooney, who wore a white dress to watch the action on Centre Court alongside her husband Wayne
Girls' day out: Fast friends Victoria Beckham and Tana Ramsay sat side by side to watch Andy Murray storm to victory at Wimbledon yesterday
Girls' day out: Fast friends Victoria Beckham and Tana Ramsay sat side by side to watch Andy Murray storm to victory at Wimbledon yesterday
And it wasn't just champions from the tennis world taking their seats in the exclusive section - footballer Wayne Rooney watched alongside wife Colleen, while golfing star Justin Rose, there to take in the match with his wife Kate, was spotted laughing with actor Gerard Butler.
Butler, the star of Hollywood blockbusters including 300 and PS I Love You, attracted almost as much attention as his fellow countryman Andy Murray's efforts on court yesterday, as he and fellow film star Bradley Cooper brought a dash of A-list glamour to the box in co-ordinating summery blue suits and shades. 
Star power: Actors Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler caused a stir as they arrived in the Royal Box in co-ordinating blue suits to watch Gerard's fellow countryman Andy Murray take on Djokovic
Star power: Actors Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler caused a stir as they arrived in the Royal Box in co-ordinating blue suits to watch Gerard's fellow countryman Andy Murray take on Djokovic
He paid as much attention to Gerard Butler as he did his girlfriend
The actors appeared to be engaging in something of a bromance
Bromance: Hangover star Bradley Cooper spent as much time chatting to fellow actor Gerard Butler (left) as he did his girlfriend (right), British model Suki Waterhouse
Common ground: While her boyfriend Bradley Cooper had his friend Gerard Butler sitting on his other side, Suki Waterhouse was flanked by the former Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King on her right
Seating arrangements: While her boyfriend Bradley Cooper had his friend Gerard Butler sitting on his other side, model Suki Waterhouse was flanked by the former Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King on her right
Cooper was also accompanied by his girlfriend, British model and actress Suki Waterhouse, but seemed to pay more attention to Butler as the pair played up to the cameras capturing their every reaction to the increasingly tense match. Ms Waterhouse meanwhile was left to chat to the Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King, who was sitting to her right.
The world of politics was also well represented, with Prime Minister David Cameron applauding Andy Murray's every winning shot from the front row, accompanied by his mother Mary. 
Behind him was Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who was branded a 'grade one wally' for gleefully unfurling a giant Saltire flag behind Mr Cameron as Murray was crowned victor - in what many saw as a political ploy to gain support for Scottish independence.
Also looking on were Maria Miller, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, and her husband Iain, and Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards, while acclaimed classical pianist Mitsuko Uchido, wearing a quirky pair of glasses, appeared deep in conversation with the Duke of Kent in the front row.
There were jubilant scenes in the Royal Box as Andy Murray sealed his much longed-for victory to take the title, but not everybody in the section was entirely thrilled with the result.
Sitting alongside Ed Miliband's wife Justine Thornton was Tomislav Nikolic, the Serbian president, who was no doubt disappointed to see Djokovic dispatched in straight sets by the Scotsman.
The Labour Party leader Ed Millband was there too
David Cameron and Alex Salmond looked tense as they took in all the action
Political heavyweights: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond sat behind Prime Minister David Cameron, left, while Labour Party leader Ed Miliband sat behind the Duke of Kent - who is President of the All England Tennis Club
Royalty: The Duke of Kent (front) chatted with acclaimed classical musician Mitsuko Uchida, while Ed Miliband and his wife Justine Thornton watched the match from the row behind
Royalty: The Duke of Kent (front) chatted with acclaimed classical musician Mitsuko Uchida, while Ed Miliband and his wife Justine Thornton watched the match from the row behind
Former stars: Greg Rusedki, the former British number one, watched the Scotsman and the Serbian battle it out alongside his wife Lucy Connor in soaring temperatures on Centre Court
Former stars: Greg Rusedki, the former British number one, watched the Scotsman and the Serbian battle it out alongside his wife Lucy Connor in soaring temperatures on Centre Court
Eclectic mixture: Ed Miliband shared a joke with four-time Wimbledon champion Rod Laver in the Royal Box, as Colleen and Wayne Rooney, and Victoria Beckham and Tana Ramsay watched from the rows behind
Eclectic mixture: Ed Miliband shared a joke with four-time Wimbledon champion Rod Laver in the Royal Box, as Colleen and Wayne Rooney, and Victoria Beckham and Tana Ramsay watched from the rows behind
Golfer Justin Rose watched the action on Centre Court
Footballer Wayne Rooney chatted with sporting stars from the tennis world
Sporting champions: The Royal Box was awash with sporting talent yesterday, and not just from the world of tennis; footballer Wayne Rooney was there, left, as was South African born English golfer Justin Rose, right
The Royal Box has been reserved for the entertainment of friends and guests of Wimbledon since 1922.
The guest list is made up of members of the British and foreign royal families, heads of government, big names from the tennis world, the tournament's commercial partners and the British Armed Forces.
Representatives of prominent media organisations, supporters of British tennis are also among those lucky enough to make the cut.
Invitations come from the Chairman of the All England Club, and take into account suggestions from members of The Championships' Organising Committee and the Lawn Tennis Assocation along with other relevant partners.
The jovial atmosphere evident in the Royal Box yesterday will have continued after Murray raised the trophy, as guests are invited to the Clubhouse for lunch, tea and drinks at the end of the day.
Prime Minister David Cameron's suit and tie provoked a lot of reaction on Twitter given the soaring temperatures, but he was merely following protocol, as male guests in the Royal Box are asked to wear smart dress such as a suit or jacket and tie.
Ladies are asked not to wear hats to prevent obscuring the view of those sitting behind them.

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