Breaking:Zara and Mike Tindall’s strategic reason for avoiding Wimbledon’s royal box with Camilla

Zara and Mike Tindall are used to getting tickets to some of the hottest sporting events in town – and today they were at yet another prestigious tournament.

That’s because King Charles’ niece and her former rugby player husband enjoyed a day out at Wimbledon, where they had seats to watch the quarter final action on Centre Court. As firm favourites among royal fans and having royal relatives, you would assume the pair would be afforded a place in Centre Court’s prestigious royal box.

In fact, the privilege was extended to her older brother Peter Phillips, the oldest son of Princess Anne, who sat and watched the Centre Court action alongside his new girlfriend, Harriet Sperling and Queen Camilla. However, it seems there wasn’t actually a place for Zara and Mike, in the box and they actually sat elsewhere for their day at the tennis – and it seems it is all down to one of Zara’s jobs.

As well as being a champion equestrian, the mum-of-three is also a brand ambassador for several luxury firms, including upmarket watchmaker Rolex, which is one of the main sponsors of the tournament

So at Wimbledon yesterday, she actually sat in seats reserved for those invited by Rolex rather than with her older brother, his girlfriend and her aunt Camilla. The parents of the Princess of Wales were also at Wimbledon today but they too were not in the Royal Box, however, they did bag the prestigious seats when they attended the tournament last week.

Entry to the box is by invite only and only the biggest stars get one of the 74 luxury seats – invitations are extended to heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organisations, and supporters of British tennis, among others.

Peter Phillips in the Royal Box with his new girlfriend Harriet Sperling
Peter Phillips in the Royal Box with his new girlfriend Harriet Sperling(Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Meanwhile, Camilla got to relax somewhat on her surprise trip to Wimbledon today watch the quarter-final action on Centre Court. She was dressed for her day out at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in a cream linen dress featuring large giraffe motifs by Anna Valentine, with a Jack Russell brooch from Van Cleef and Arpels.

On arriving at the championships, she met former player Laura Robson, who works in international player relations. And tellingly the Queen told her about her day out that it was it was “so nice to be able to escape for a day”. Meanwhile, Camilla also praised head gardener Martyn Falconer, who has worked at Wimbledon for 25 years and cares for all the plants around the grounds. “It all looks fantastic. It always looks absolutely perfect,” she told him.

Entry to the box is by invite only and only the biggest stars get one of the 74 luxury seats – invitations are extended to heads of government, people from the world of tennis, commercial partners, British armed forces, prominent media organisations, and supporters of British tennis, among others.