Hamilton was refused entry into Wimbledon Royal Box over wardrobe malfunction

The Royal Box at Wimbledon has seen some of the biggest celebrities in the world take their seats in order to watch Britain’s top tennis competition, but the nation’s most well-known F1 star Lewis Hamilton was once refused entry. He was set to watch Novak Djokovic take on Roger Federer in the 2015 final, but got shut down by security. The Serbian came out on top in four sets, but Hamilton could not watch thanks to SW19’s strict dress code. Men who are invited to the exclusive box on Centre Court must wear a jacket, tie and shoes – as the likes of Hugh Grant, Benedict Cumberbatch and Bradley Cooper did on the day, but Hamilton’s seat remained empty. Hamilton’s outfit did not follow the strict guidelines and he was turned away, barred from taking his place in the premier seats. It was a decision backed by the tournament’s VIP security chief Alan Chalmers – who claimed that the Mercedes star was dressed for ‘a beach in Marbella’ He told WalesOnline : ‘It was not my job to tell Lewis Hamilton he couldn’t come in. But I would have to say it was the correct decision. He wasn’t wearing a jacket or tie. Wimbledon is not a beach in Marbella, it’s a major tennis tournament.’ Lewis Hamilton at Wimbledon in 2014. (Image: Getty) ‘I’m surprised the news didn’t sweep around the grounds more quickly really. It’s unfortunate, but these things happen. We have a dress code of jacket and tie and that’s that really. We have to try and keep standards high. We have been fighting to keep them up for years so it’s important we monitor them.’ The reigning F1 world champion had posted a photo of his outfit on social media in which he was not wearing either a jacket or tie, then later a spokesperson for the driver said: ‘Due to a misunderstanding over dress code, he is disappointed to have missed the final.’ The Wimbledon Royal Box follows a strict dress code. (Image: Getty)