The King has repotedly axed a major tradition at Buckingham Palace that dates back to 1919, choosing to relax a strict dress code for one specific area of the royal residence
King Charles has reportedly made the decision to axe a strict dress code at Buckingham Palace that dates back to 1919. The century-long rule governs the Palace’s own private tennis court, and previously stated that those wishing to partake in a spot of tennis must wear white.
The Palace tennis court was first built in the part of the garden that adjoins Hyde Park Garden in 1919 during the reign of King George V: King Charles ’ great-grandfather. Since the court first began being used by both members of the royal family and Buckingham Palace staff, the all-white attire rule has been strictly enforced to adhere with similar rules at Wimbledon.
But according to the Sunday Times, Charles has now relaxed the strict rule, saying the all-white etiquette when on the court is “preferable” but no longer “essential”. The rule has remained for Wimbledon players since the tournament’s origins in Queen Victoria’s time, as it was believed that an all-white attire made sweat stains less visible.
Wimbledon has long been a favourite social outing of many royal family members, with Princess Beatrice and her mother, Sarah Duchess of York, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Lady Amelia Windsor, the Duke of Kent’s granddaughter all attending this year’s tournament.
The Buckingham Palace court, dubbed the Windsor Court, has also been used by tennis champions throughout the years, with England champion Fred Perry playing matches against King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II and grandfather of Charles III.
And in 2000, Björn Borg and John McEnroe relived their 1980 and 1981 Wimbledon finals in a charity match on the Palace’s hard court.
While King Charles is more fond of other sports over tennis, Princess Kate is an avid tennis lover, being patron of the Wimbledon tournament year after year.
Kate has practiced her hand at tennis since her childhood, passing down her talent for the sport to her own children, with Prince George reportedly even receiving private lessons from Swiss tennis champion Roger Federer.
The tennis court in Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing refurbishments, as is much of the royal residence. According to the Times , the court has not been in the best condition for several years, as its surface has several potholes that cause players to stumble from time to time.
Other areas of Buckingham Palace undergoing refurbishment include the heated swimming pool, which King Charles decided to lower the water temperature by a few degrees in a cost-cutting measure.
