King Charles has relaxed the dress code at Buckingham Palace's tennis court, marking a significant departure from centuries of British sporting tradition.
Players on the Royal Family's outdoor hard court can now wear coloured clothing, with tennis whites described as "preferred" but "not essential" for the first time.
This modernising approach stands in stark contrast to Wimbledon, where the "almost entirely white" dress code remains as rigid as ever as stars are currently facing off.
The All England Club continues to enforce its historic rule, limiting any colour to a mere 10mm strip.
King Charles has relaxed dress codes at Buckingham Palace's tennis court as royal fans eagerly await Princess Kate's expected Wimbledon appearance
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The change affects members of the royal family, royal household staff and their guests who use what the Royal Collection Trust calls "London's most exclusive tennis court", constructed in 1919 in the palace's 40-acre garden, The Times reported.
Despite being known for his formal approach to dressing and rarely being seen without a tie, the King wanted staff and guests to feel less restricted by protocol when playing tennis.
This represents a notable shift from traditional royal sporting etiquette.
The palace court has hosted notable matches throughout its history. In the 1930s, King George VI, a keen tennis player, regularly competed against Fred Perry, then Britain's number one player, who won three consecutive Wimbledon championships.
The all-white attire synonymous with tennis will now be 'preferred' but no longer required at Buckingham Palace's tennis court
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More recently, Björn Borg and John McEnroe played a fundraising match on the court in 2000, arranged by Prince Andrew for the NSPCC. McEnroe won 6-3, 7-6, with celebrities including Art Garfunkel and Damon Hill attending.
Whilst the King himself is not known for his love of tennis, the Prince and Princess of Wales are keen players and regular attendees at Wimbledon, where Kate serves as patron.
The tradition of white clothing in British sport dates back to the 19th century, when it was enforced at Wimbledon partly because it concealed unwelcome signs of perspiration.
White attire was also considered cooler in summer heat and became associated with propriety and social standing.
Wimbledon's All England Club continues to enforce a strict all-white dress code
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Wimbledon's dress code has seen only minor adjustments over its 147-year history.
The most significant recent change came in 2023 when the All England Club allowed dark undershorts for women players, following campaigning by figures including Billie Jean King, Judy Murray and Heather Watson.
Even still, the tournament's commitment to tradition remains absolute.
In 2017, Venus Williams was asked to change during a rain break due to visible fuchsia bra straps. Roger Federer also faced similar scrutiny in 2018 when officials requested he change his orange-soled Nike shoes whilst pursuing his eighth Wimbledon title.
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The Princess of Wales is set to make an appearance at Wimbledon this year in her role as patron
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The news comes as royal watchers eagerly await Princess Kate's first public appearance since her emotional trip to Colchester Hospital last week.
Kate is expected to appear during this year's tournament in her role as patron.
She traditionally presents the trophies to both the men's and women's singles champions at the finals.
The Princess of Wales is "very likely to attend the tennis tournament in the next two weeks", according to royal sources.
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