The competition at Wimbledon is heating up as contenders battle it out in the semi-finals today, much like the fans watching the action unfold in London’s baking temperatures.
Fans sat in London‘s balmy 29C at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club to watch the Ladies’ Singles semi-final match between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova of the United States on day eleven of the championships.
While yesterday’s Royal Box turnout included members of the Royal Family, including Queen Camilla and the King’s nephew, Peter Phillips, today featured a selection of famous actors and sports stars.
Among them was Sir Stephen Fry, 67, who didn’t compromise his outfit because of the weather, with the English broadcaster pulling out all the sartorial stops in tweed blazer and blue shirt.
Also upping the Royal Box’s style points was singer Ellie Goulding. The 38-year-old Burn singer put on a stunning display in a striped white and grey dress.
Meanwhile, former tennis star Bjorn Borg upped the star power in the Royal Box today, with the event no doubt evoking memories of the time he first stormed Wimbledon’s Centre Court in 1973.
British tennis champion and presenter Annabel Croft, 58, was also there today, looking radiant in an all-white ensemble.
Other notable spectators on day 11 included Harry Potter actress Fiona Shaw and Gavin and Stacey’s Rob Brydon.
1. Sir David Suchet 2. Ben Whishaw 3. Lord and Lady Vallance of Balham 4. Cherie Blair 5. Emma Hayes 6. Ellie Goulding 7. Bjorn Borg 8. Fiona Shaw 9. Rob Brydon 10. Jonathan Edwards 11. Annabel Croft 12. Julia Gillard 13. Stephen Fry and Jo Crocker
1. Sir David Suchet, OBE
Sir David Suchet was among the famous faces in the Royal Box on day 11 of the Wimbledon Championships
Best known for bringing Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot to life onscreen, David Suchet is one of the UK’s most recognisable actors.
Born in London and raised in Kent where he was educated at boarding school, Suchet began his acting career in 1969.
Twenty years later, he was case in ITV’s Agatha Christi’s Poirot; the role that came to define his career.
Now 79, Suchet is well regarded as one of the finest stage, screen and television actors the UK has to offer.
He has long been married to fellow actress Sheila Ferris and the couple share two children, Robert and Katherine.
In 2020, he was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to drama and charity.
2. Ben Whishaw
Actor Ben Whishaw sat in the Royal Box to watch Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. play the women’s singles semifinal match
Ben Whishaw is an acclaimed English actor best known for playing Q in the James Bond films Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die.
He rose to prominence with his breakthrough role in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and later won critical acclaim for his work in television dramas, such as A Very English Scandal and This Is Going to Hurt.
Whishaw, despite his fame, is known for being intensely private and rarely appears at high-profile celebrity events – making his Royal Box appearance at Wimbledon all the more notable.
He is widely respected within the acting world for his subtlety and commitment to complex roles.
3. Lord and Lady Vallance of Balham
Lord Patrick Vallance, former government chief scientific adviser, arrives on day eleven, with his wife Sophia Ann Dexter behind him
Lord Vallance of Balham is a distinguished British physician and scientist who gained national prominence as the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 2018 to 2023.
During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, often appearing alongside government officials in public briefings.
His contributions to science and public health were recognised in 2022 when he was knighted and, in 2024, he was appointed Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation.
Lady Vallance, Sophia Ann Dexter, is a former general practitioner and has been a steadfast supporter of her husband’s career. The couple married in 1986 and have three children together.
They are often seen attending high-profile events, including the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
4. Cherie Blair, CBE
Cherie Blair, the spouse of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, appeared in high spirits as she watched the action in the Royal Box
Cherie Blair is a barrister and writer, married to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Born in Lancashire and raised in Merseyside, Cherie studied law at university and became Queen’s Council (now King’s Council) in 1995.
In 2000, three years after moving into 10 Downing Street when Tony Blair’s Labour Party won a landslide 1997 General Election victory, Cherie founded Matrix Chambers, which specialises in human rights law.
Cherie and Tony met in 1976 while they were both studying to become barristers. They married four years later.
The couple share three children; Euan, Nicholas, Kathryn and Leo – who was born in the year 2000 when the couple were living in 10 Downing Street.
5. Emma Hayes
Manager of the United States football team, Emma Hayes, is pictured sitting in the Royal Box on Thursday afternoon
Emma Hayes is one of the most successful managers in women’s football, having led Chelsea Women to a record number of league titles and FA Cup victories during her time in charge.
She recently stepped down from her Chelsea role to take over as head coach of the United States Women’s National Team – one of the most prestigious jobs in global football.
Hayes was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to football and is regularly seen commentating on matches and speaking on issues ranging from equality to motherhood.
Joining her in the Royal Box was her mother, Miriam, who is frequently seen alongside her daughter at matches and public appearances.
Miriam is the proud mother of Emma. Born and raised in Camden Town, London, Miriam has been a lifelong Chelsea FC supporter.
6. Ellie Goulding
38-year-old singer Ellie Goulding put on a stunning display in a striped dress on day 11 of the competition
British singer Ellie Goulding, 38, from Hereford, was among the lucky few to watch day 11 of Wimbledon from the Royal Box.
The Starry Eyed singer is a regular face at the sporting event and has taken to the Royal Box on numerous occasions.
Ellie’s string of successful hits has seen her win three Brit Awards, a Billboard Music Award, 17 BMI London Awards, as well as two Grammy nominations.
She’s no stranger to high-profile events, and earlier this month, she surprised fans by attending Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding in Venice alongside the likes of Leonard DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian.
Her appearance at the wedding came as a slight surprise to fans, as no connection between her and the bride and groom is publicly known.
Last year, the pop star and her estranged husband, Casper Jopling, confirmed their split in February 2024, after four years of marriage.
7. Bjorn Borg
Former world number one tennis plyer Bjorn Borg sported a tan as he watched the action unfold today
Bjorn Borg is a Swedish former professional tennis player, and was previously ranked as the world’s number one player in the men’s singles.
The 69-year-old is no stranger to SW19, having won five consecutive Grand Slam titles in the late seventies and early eighties.
Borg is also a regular fixture in the royal box, and has been spotted among the spectators every year since 2015.
Once dubbed the ‘rock star of tennis’ and ‘the ice man’ thanks to his cool demeanour, his rakish looks attracted a lot of attention from female fans at the height of his career.
He was previously married to childhood sweetheart, tennis player Mariana Simionescu, fathered a child with Jannike Bjorling, who he met while judging a wet T-shirt competition, and then married Loredana Berte, an Italian glamour model.
But he appears to be happily settled with Patricia, whose Instagram bio describes the Borgs as ‘one happy family’.
It was 1976 when Borg won his first Wimbledon men’s title, aged 20, to start a run of five wins in a row that would turn him into a bonafide tennis legend.
8. Fiona Shaw CBE
Pictured: Fiona Shaw and comedian Rob Brydon sit in the Royal Box to watch Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Amanda Anisimova
From an uptight housewife in the Harry Potter franchise to an enigmatic MI5 boss in Killing Eve, Fiona Shaw’s acting talents know no bounds.
The 67-year-old Irish actress, who has won numerous awards over the years for her film, television and theatre roles, grew up in Co. Cork.
After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Shaw went on to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company for several years.
Her career has seen her star alongside Tinseltown’s finest including Tom Selleck, Maggie Smith and Jodie Comer as she takes on roles in Hollywood blockbusters and BBC dramas.
She joined fellow actor Rob Brydon in Centre Court’s Royal Box this afternoon, donning a dusty rose shirt with V-neck detailing as she caught the women’s semi-final.
9. Rob and Claire Brydon
Actor Rob Brydon, known for his role at Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey, was joined by his wife Claire
Welsh actor Rob Brydon, 60, is a comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer, best known for his role Bryn West in Gavin and Stacey, and for hosting Would I Lie To You? on the BBC.
He has carved out an enormously varied entertainment career after studying drama in Cardiff before stints in radio, as a voice-over artist, and as a shopping channel presenter.
He has also acted alongside Kenneth Branagh in the West End show The Painkiller, and launched a podcast where he chats to celebrity pals.
Brydon was married to Martina Fitchie from 1992 to 2000 and they have two daughters and a son together, Katie, Amy and Harry.
Since 2006, he has been married to Claire Holland, who attended alongside him today, and they have two sons, Tom, 17, and George, 14.
10. Jonathan Edwards
Triple Jumper Jonathan Edwards is seen arriving at the Royal Box on day 11 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025
Jonathan Edwards is a former Olympic triple jumper and one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes.
He won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000 and still holds the world record in the triple jump – a feat he achieved in 1995.
Following his retirement, Edwards has become a familiar face on television as a sports commentator and presenter, and has worked with the BBC to cover the Olympics.
Edwards was briefly known for his strong Christian beliefs, though he later publicly distanced himself from religion in a journey that attracted much public interest.
11. Annabel Croft
Pictured: Annabel Croft in the Royal Box on day eleven of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Annabel Croft is a former British number one tennis player who became a household name in the 1980s.
At just 15, she was the youngest Briton in nearly a century to compete in the Wimbledon main draw.
Despite reaching a career-high, ranking 24 in the world in December 1985, Croft retired from professional tennis at the age of 21, citing burnout and a desire to pursue other interests.
She seamlessly transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a familiar face on British television with shows like Treasure Hunt and Interceptor.
12. Julia Gillard
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (bottom left) was pictured in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Thursday afternoon in front of Sir Stephen Fry
Julia Gillard is the former Prime Minister of Australia and former leader of the Labor Party (ALP).
She held office at the very top of Australian politics between June 2010 and June 2013, before which she served as Deputy Prime Minister.
63-year-old Julia, who studied at the University of Melbourne, is the first and only woman to have held either post in Australia.
13. Sir Stephen Fry and Jo Crocker
Stephen Fry and his sister Jo Crocker joined the VIPs in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Thursday
Stephen Fry is an actor, television presenter, comedian and writer whose career has spanned several decades.
The star, who is one half of double act Fry and Laurie with fellow actor and Cambridge University pal, Hugh Laurie, has presented BBC Two quiz show QI as well as the BAFTAs.
His work in comedy has seen him star in beloved sitcoms like Blackadder, as well as Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie.
Among his many talents, Fry also narrates the Harry Potter audiobooks.
Stephen attended Wimbledon today with his sister, Jo Crocker. Jo is a talent agent and the personal assistant of Stephen.
She worked for her brother on several projects, including Bright Young Things, in 2003.
