SW19 was once again central London as Wimbledon 2024 kicked off with a win for Emma Raducane and polite applause from Britain's most famous Davids, Beckham and Attenborough.
On the first day of the fortnight-long tournament, the two national treasures sat on Centre Court while outside, hundreds of people queued in an orderly fashion all the way to Wimbledon Park.
Boss David Beckham talks to Sir David Attenborough
AP
Arriving visitors walked between two lines of protest at the entrance: pro-Palestinian groups chanted slogans and waved flags denouncing Barclays, one of the tournament's main sponsors, while local residents called on tennis fans to sign a petition to block the proposed expansion by 39 courts.
Inside, guests gathered at Centre Court to watch the first match, in which Carlos Alcaraz defeated Mark Rahal, but first lunch was served and this year's celebrity hospitality hotspot was established.
Lucy Boynton arrives at Celine
Wire image
Pink was the rage in Evian's Mountain of Youth VIP suite, where actress Lucy Boyton led the way in a candyfloss bob, embroidered Celine baby doll dress, and patent leather Mary Jane ballerina flats. Also in the suite were singer Arlo Parks in Thom Browne; actress Jameela Jamil in a navy Reformation dress from “The Good Place”; and musician boyfriend James Blake in a beige suit, T-shirt, and suede slip-ons. Also celebrating the release of her new song “Somebody's Daughter,” was Pixie Lott, along with her husband Oliver Cheshire, who wore clothes from his fashion label, CHÉ Studios. Everyone went home with a personalized Evian water bottle.
James Blake and Jameela Jamil in the Evian Mountain of Youth VIP Suite
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Meanwhile, Wimbledon's chicest fan epicenter, Ralph Lauren (which will see visits from Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller and their love interests in the coming days), kicked off with a father-daughter day: Poppy Delevingne attended with her father, Charles Delevingne, and Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark arrived arm-in-arm with Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece. At the Lanson spot, Lorraine Kelly and Mylène Crassus sipped rosé champagne, while singers James Blunt and James Bay were seen strutting across the venue.
Dave Grohl and Jordyn Blum
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Rain fell on the second day, but couldn't dim the scent of Rebel Wilson's flowers. Joining the Australian actor on Centre Court was Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, who has angered Swifties by claiming that Taylor Swift didn't play live on her Eras tour, and attended with his wife Jordyn Blum. Princess Diana's nieces, the Spencer Twins, also showed up in smart tailored style, while The Rest is Politics co-host Alastair Campbell wore a pink blazer for the occasion.
The most stylish celebrities at Wimbledon 2024:
Rebel Wilson
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Dave Grohl and Jordyn Blum
Jordan Pettit/PA Wire
Alastair Campbell
Jordan Pettit/PA Wire
Boss David Beckham
boss
Lucy Boynton in the Celine Evian “Mountain of Youth” VIP Suite
Dave Bennett
Jameela Jamil in Evian's “Mountain of Youth” VIP suite at Reformation
Dave Bennett
Gregg Sulkin, Pixie Lott and Oliver Cheshire appear in Evian's Mountain of Youth VIP Suite
Dave Bennett/Courtesy of Getty Images
AJ Tracey in Evian's Mountain of Youth VIP Suite
Dave Bennett/Courtesy of Getty Images
Arlo Parks and Dana Gottlieb in the Evian Mountain of Youth VIP Suite
Dave Bennett/Courtesy of Getty Images
Kingsley Ben-Adir staying in Evian's Mountain of Youth VIP Suite
Dave Bennett/Courtesy of Getty Images
James Blake in Evian's Mountain of Youth VIP Suite
Dave Bennett/Courtesy of Getty Images
Golda Roschubel and Martins Inhambe
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James Blunt
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James Bay
Getty Images for AELTC