Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton discovered in 2015 that even sporting royalty must bow to Wimbledon’s time-honoured traditions when he was denied entry to the prestigious Royal Box for wearing a flamboyant floral shirt instead of the mandatory jacket and tie.
The racing driver was turned away from Centre Court’s most exclusive seating area as he attempted to watch the men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, despite holding a formal invitation to the enclosure that has entertained distinguished guests since 1922.
Hamilton, who had already secured two world championships and was on course for his third, found his sporting achievements counted for nothing when he breached the All England Club’s strict dress code. The incident highlighted Wimbledon’s unwavering commitment to tradition, regardless of a guest’s celebrity status.
The Mercedes driver had enthusiastically posted on Instagram earlier that day, sharing a photo of his Royal Box invitation package with the caption: “On my way to Wimbledon to watch the final! Honoured to have been invited to watch the men’s finals from the Royal Box!
However, Hamilton’s excitement was short-lived. Upon arriving at the venue, officials informed the F1 star that his colorful floral shirt and Panama hat ensemble failed to meet the Royal Box’s stringent requirements of jacket, tie, and formal shoes for male guests.
According to sources at the time, Hamilton not only violated the dress code but also arrived approximately an hour late. “Lewis turned up an hour late and wasn’t wearing a tie,” a source told The Express. He was told he would need to put one on to enter the box but he threw a bit of hissy fit, which lasted a couple of minutes, and then left.
The source added: “There is a strict dress code and the staff manning the box had no choice. He was asked not to enter the box.”
Hamilton’s spokesman later confirmed the embarrassing mix-up, stating: “Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding dress code at Wimbledon, Lewis is very disappointed to have missed the men’s final.
The incident meant Hamilton missed witnessing Djokovic’s victory from one of sport’s most coveted viewing positions, while Hollywood stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Bradley Cooper, Hugh Grant, and Kate Winslet enjoyed the match from the best seats in the house.
All England Club chief executive Richard Lewis later attempted to smooth over the incident, emphasizing that there were no hard feelings on either side. Lewis arrived and it hadn’t been communicated to him by his assistants that it was a jacket and tie,” Lewis told Sky Sports News.
“Lewis fully understood, he was very comfortable with the fact that it was a jacket and tie dress code. He couldn’t find the appropriate clothing for himself quick enough so he decided not to go into the Royal Box,” Lewis explained.
The executive stressed the harmonious nature of the resolution: “It was all very harmonious and we’ve made it clear to Lewis already that he’d be more than welcome to come back to the Royal Box in the future – and I’m sure he will.
Hamilton had posted another Instagram photo from the venue showing himself in his floral shirt and hat combination, captioned simply “Wimbledon” with a British flag emoji, apparently unaware of the sartorial storm about to unfold.
The Royal Box dress code, clearly stated on Wimbledon’s official website, requires “smart” attire with “suits/jacket and tie” for men. Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them.
Despite the option of purchasing an £85 Ralph Lauren tie from the Wimbledon gift shop, finding an appropriate jacket at short notice proved impossible for the racing champion, who had recently been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2014.
The timing was particularly unfortunate for Hamilton, as his Formula One schedule rarely aligned with Wimbledon’s fortnight. The Wimbledon Championships often clash with the British Grand Prix, making his 2015 attendance a rare opportunity.
Lewis Wolff, speaking on behalf of the All England Club, confirmed they would “definitely be asking him back” and hoped it would fit with his schedule. “The problem was that we didn’t have anything on hand appropriate for him to wear in what is a very high profile place,” he explained.
He was apologetic and very polite. We very much hope that he will be able to come again,” Wolff added, suggesting the door remained open for future invitations.
Hamilton’s dress code violation places him among several high-profile figures who have fallen foul of Wimbledon’s strict protocols over the years. The incident serves as a reminder that the All England Club makes no exceptions to its rules, regardless of a guest’s achievements or celebrity status.
The Royal Box, with its 74 dark green Lloyd Loom wicker chairs, has maintained its dress standards since 1922, hosting a carefully curated mix of royalty, past champions, celebrities, military personnel, and other distinguished guests.
Ironically, while Hamilton was being turned away for his casual attire, Wimbledon itself was facing criticism from players for its increasingly strict enforcement of the all-white dress code on court, with Nick Kyrgios famously being asked to turn his Wimbledon-branded headband inside out for being too colorful.
The 2015 incident remains a memorable example of Wimbledon’s unwavering adherence to tradition, proving that even Formula One world champions must follow the same rules as everyone else when entering the hallowed grounds of SW19’s most exclusive seating area.
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Image Credit:
Lewis Hamilton cidadão honorário – Image by Marcelo Camargo / Agência Brasil, licensed under CC BY 3.0 BR, via Wikimedia Commons.
