Wimbledon 2025: Hugh Grant goes viral for sleeping in the Royal Box behind Queen Camilla; Fans call him ‘tired tennis fan'
Wimbledon 2025 wasn't just making headlines for thrilling rallies or surprise upsets – it had social media roaring louder than any serve.
How? Because none other than
Hugh Grant
, the charming British film star best known for rom‑com antics, during the men's quarter-final on July 9, got caught snoozing in the prestigious Royal Box – well behind Queen Camilla herself.
As match cameras zoomed in, Grant's mid‑game nap during Novak Djokovic's quarter‑final clash went viral.
Cue memes, clever hashtags, and cheeky commentary. Dubbed the 'tired tennis fan,' Grant became the overnight face of Wimbledon fatigue.
A Royal Box slumber
While attending the 2025 Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday, July 9, with his wife, Swedish producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein – a sudden hush fell across Centre Court – as the cameras spotted Hugh Grant, falling asleep during the high-stakes men's singles quarter-final between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Italy's Flavio Cobolli.
With his tie loosened and sunglasses shading his eyes, 64‑year‑old Grant appeared to nod off, his head slumped slightly to the side.
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The even more surreal moment? He was seated mere feet behind Queen Camilla, who was fully engaged in the match.
Inside the Royal Box: The peers and the pressure
Now here's the tea!
The Royal Box at Wimbledon is an invitation-only space – strictly curated by the All England Club chair. Guests must adhere to strict dress codes and smart attire – suits and ties for men, understated elegance for ladies, no hats for everyone. And most importantly, you won't find tickets for it on resale markets.
However, there's no rule against mid-match naps.
That makes Grant's faint snooze amid such formality even juicier.
Seating in the Royal Box comes via personal invitation from the All England Club chairman, handed out to royals, dignitaries, sports legends, and a handful of celebrities.
That afternoon's lineup was star-studded: Queen Camilla, David Beckham, John Cena, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Alba, Olivia Rodrigo, Glen Powell, Joe Alwyn, Cooper Koch, Matt Bomer, and even luminaries like Sir John Major and Kumar Sangakkara made Centre Court glitter with presence.
Amidst that starry affair, Wimbledon's infamous 'smart‑casual code' was enforced – Grant, in his relaxed manner, added a touch of real-life flair to the elegance. Cameras also caught the English actor chatting with Camilla and his wife; yet minutes later, there he was – head tipping forward in a public display of canine-level relaxation.
The social chatter
Someone, especially of the stature of Hugh Grant, snoozing in the Royal Box?
Nothing is juicier for the social media meme club!
Quite inevitably, social media blew up.
Anyone with internet access quickly transformed the clip into a pick-me-up gif, meme, or meme‑centered tweet. Some fans praised Grant's sheer Britishness, calling it 'posh napping' – while others joked he might've had 'a drop too many Pimm's.'
On X (formerly Twitter), one critic blasted the scene as 'rude' – arguing fans queued since dawn for Wimbledon tickets – while BBC Sport's X account quipped, 'It's all got a bit too much for Hugh Grant'.
Others joined the comedic chorus: 'How can anyone sleep during a Djokovic match?!'
Amid the criticism, supportive voices reminded everyone: 'It was over three hours long… metronomic ball hits can hypnotize anyone!'
'Bit like what happens when people watch his films,' one user joked.
And another added, 'A little too much complimentary alcohol and sun for Hugh Grant on centre court…'
One user chipped in, 'A little too much complimentary alcohol and sun for Hugh Grant…' while another quipped, 'Bit like what happens when people watch his films.'
However, one of the best GIFs came from a social media user who shared a moment from 'Notting Hill', with a caption, 'Hugh Grant waking up to see he's been caught napping in the Royal Box at Wimbledon…'
The aftermath
Although there's been enough chatter online, no official comment from Grant or his team has come out yet. However, as his track records go, the English actor might as well take all of it in stride with humour, true to his laid-back charm
On-court outcome? Djokovic edged past Cobolli 6‑7(6), 6‑2, 7‑5, 6‑4, and geared up for a semi against Jannik Sinner for the final showdown.
Yet off-court, Grant's nap sparked broader conversation about how sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones unscripted.
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