David Beckham was seen in hysterics at Wimbledon on the opening day, as he participated in a Mexican wave that prompted BBC commentator Andrew Castle to eat his words. The former England captain, seated in the Royal Box alongside his mother Sandra, joined the wave that circulated around Centre Court during a changeover in the match between Jannik Sinner and Miromir Kecmanovic.
Royal Box Joins the Fun
Castle had initially remarked, "The wave sometimes dies around about the Royal Box, we can't have that. Keep an eye on them." However, after spotting Beckham standing up and waving his arms, he quickly added, "Oh that's good." Beckham's participation helped demonstrate that the Royal Box is not too posh for such lighthearted entertainment.
High-Profile Attendees
Beckham was among several notable figures in the crowd, including his son Romeo and his girlfriend Kim Turnball. He was seated next to the Duke of Kent, while television personality and baking legend Mary Berry was nearby his mother. Opera singer Katherine Jenkins and her husband Andrew Levitas were also present, seated directly behind Beckham.
Past Controversy with Katherine Jenkins
The seating arrangement brought attention to a past controversy. In 2017, an email believed to have been written by Beckham was leaked, in which he questioned Jenkins' OBE, writing: "Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus taking coke. F***ing joke." Jenkins later told The Sun in 2018 that she was hurt by the comments, stating, "I don't know why, again, that was aimed at me. I also don't feel the need to defend this, by the way. I know what I've done and when I got the OBE it was given to me for music and for charity."
Beckham's Knighthood
Beckham himself received a knighthood in November 2025, when King Charles bestowed the honour upon him for his services to sport and charity. The incident at Wimbledon marked a lighthearted moment for the football icon, who continues to be a prominent figure in British culture.
