Wimbledon is well underway with thousands of fans heading to London for tennis’ biggest event of the year.
Andy Murray made his opening appearance at SW19 on Monday, June 27, with Britain’s Ryan Peniston joining him today along with a host of other home hopefuls.
For everyone in attendance, only some have to follow a strict dress code.
However, there is an unspoken rule about what people are expected to wear throughout the event.
Due to the completely unpredictable British summer weather, many are taking umbrellas and sunscreen at the same time.
For Royal Box invitees, failing to stick to the code can lead to missing out on the tournament, which one famous face found out to their cost in 2015.
What is Wimbledon’s dress code?
Wimbledon is not as strict on clothing as you might expect, with there not actually being a specific code you have to follow.
Essentially, organisers simply encourage people to dress smartly and avoid commercial identification or offensive remarks on clothes.
Tournament officials state: "Any objects or clothing bearing (as shall be determined at the AELTC's reasonable discretion) political statements, objectionable or offensive statements, or commercial identification intended for 'ambush marketing', including items or objects given away as part of a promotional or marketing campaign by third parties near to the Grounds."
How to dress for Wimbledon
Even though there isn’t a dress code, it is still important to prepare for the weather there.
Held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, it is unsurprisingly subject to unpredictable British summer weather.
One minute it could be scorching hot and the next it could be chucking it down with rain, it is best to come prepared for anything.
Traditionally, men wear suits and ties for the event, while women wear dresses or summery outfits.
What is the Royal Box’s dress code?
Celebrities, royals and world leaders have all graced the 74-seat Royal Box, and all of them have had to follow a strict dress code to do so.
Unlike the rest of the tournament, the Royal Box only permits entry to people who are following this code.
The code is very similar to the traditional look, with men required to wear a jacket, tie and shoes. Women must wear a dress or formal summery attire.
In 2015, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was denied entry for failing to stick to the code, though the entire incident was allegedly due to a misunderstanding.
A spokesperson for the Mercedes driver said at the time: "Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding dress code at Wimbledon, Lewis is very disappointed to have missed the men's final."
Due to this, Hamilton missed the final that year.
