Wednesday 27 June 2012

Bruce Forsyth and former Miss World wife share a joke with Prince Charles as they enjoy Wimbledon


Good game, good game! Bruce Forsyth and former Miss World wife share a joke with Prince Charles as they enjoy Wimbledon

  • Charles meets former British number one Tim Henman and Camilla is introduced to US star Andy Roddick
  • Heather Watson beats Jamie Lee Hampton in straight sets to become first British woman to reach the third round for a decade

It must be the way he tells them. Prince Charles had Sir Bruce Forsyth and his beauty queen wife Wilnelia in fits of laughter in the royal box at Wimbledon today.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the entertainer and his wife, a former Miss World, at Centre Court to watch Roger Federer take on Fabio Fognini.
Also present, but not seated in the royal box, was Carole Middleton, who took her seat among the masses on Centre Court to watch the second round men's singles face off.
Meanwhile, Heather Watson became the first British woman for a decade to reach the third round.
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Charles shares a joke with Sir Bruce Forsyth and the entertainer's wife Wilnelia Merced
Charles shares a joke with Sir Bruce Forsyth and the entertainer's wife Wilnelia Merced
The prince pays Ms Merced an admiring glance
The prince pays Ms Merced an admiring glance
The prince explains something to the vivacious Lady Forsyth as she listens intently
The prince explains something to the vivacious Lady Forsyth as she listens intently
Charles points out something on Centre Court as they watch the second round men's singles match between Roger Federer and Fabio Fognini
Charles points out something on Centre Court as they watch the second round men's singles match between Roger Federer and Fabio Fognini
Prior to watching the Centre Court match Charles met former British number one Tim Henman, while Camilla, who arrived slightly earlier, chatted with former finalist Andy Roddick.
But it was in the royal box that the prince looked most at ease, chatting animatedly with veteran entertainer Sir Bruce, 84, and Lady Forsyth, who looked vivacious in a figure-hugging blue dress.
    The heir to the throne couldn't help himself from throwing a few admiring glances in the direction of the 54-year-old Puerto Rican, who won Miss World in 1975 - even as his own wife sat on the other side pretending not to notice.
    Return: Charles made his first visit to Wimbledon since 1970
    Return: Charles made his first visit to Wimbledon since 1970
    Charles and Camilla applaud as they watch six-times champion Roger Federer play at Wimbledon
    Charles and Camilla applaud as they watch six-times champion Roger Federer play at Wimbledon
    Among the hoi polloi: Seated elsewhere on Centre Court was Carole Middleton, mother of Charles's daughter-in-law Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
    Among the hoi polloi: Seated elsewhere on Centre Court was Carole Middleton, mother of Charles's daughter-in-law Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
    Carole looked relaxed and comfortable in her seat, which from the position of the barrier, looks like a good vantage point from which to view the match
    Carole looked relaxed and comfortable in her seat, which from the position of the barrier, looks like a good vantage point from which to view the match
    On court, Federer put on a show fit for royalty as he raced into the third round of Wimbledon with an utterly dominant victory over Italy's Fognini.
    The pair bowed to the prince and the Duchess of Cornwall in the Royal Box as they arrived on court, but from there the Swiss ace hogged the limelight in a 6-1 6-3 6-2 victory.
    Mrs Middleton looked thrilled by the action on court, with a good vantage point for the action despite being seated among the masses. 
    Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Fabio Fognini of Italy during their men's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London this afternoon
    Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Fabio Fognini of Italy during their men's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London this afternoon
    Fognini returns to Federer. The Italian lost in straight sets
    Fognini returns to Federer. The Italian lost in straight sets
    Federer celebrates after putting on a show fit for royalty which won him a 6-1 6-3 6-2 victory
    Federer celebrates after putting on a show fit for royalty which won him a 6-1 6-3 6-2 victory
    A supremely confident Federer struck the ball extremely well off both forehand and backhand wings. The 30-year-old ace has lost only nine games in two matches.
    His statistics for the third seed were very impressive, with 35 winners and only eight unforced errors, while he hit 13 aces and lost just four points on his first serve.
    Federer, who is again looking to equal Pete Sampras's tally of seven Wimbledon titles, next faces either America's Michael Russell or French 29th seed Julien Benneteau.
    Prince Charles meets former British number one Tim Henman on his first visit to the championships for 42 years
    Prince Charles meets former British number one Tim Henman on his first visit to the championships for 42 years
    Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, meets former Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick
    Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, meets former Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick
    The Queen visited Wimbledon in 2010, but Charles has not been since 1970. His wife visited last year, the same year the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended.
    Kate is rumoured to be planning to visit at some point this year, along with her mother and possibly sister Pippa.
    Charles and Camilla's visit comes at a successful time for British tennis, with five players through to the tournament's second round.
    Camilla arrived first, meeting club chairman Philip Brook. She chatted with Roddick, who was dressed in his tennis whites but threw his cap to one side before the royal meeting.
    He said meeting her was a 'lot of fun', adding: 'I got to meet the Queen a couple of years ago and these are things you realise you don't get to do very often, they are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
    We always forget the magnitude of Wimbledon and who might be watching.'
    Will it rain? The Duchess of Cornwall appears to point to the sky as she and Charles wait for Roger Federer's match to start
    Will it rain? The Duchess of Cornwall appears to point to the sky as she and Charles wait for Roger Federer's match to start
    Good to be back: Charles and Camilla are shown to their seats in the Royal Box as Roger Federer of Switzerland plays Fabio Fognini of Italy
    Good to be back: Charles and Camilla are shown to their seats in the Royal Box as Roger Federer of Switzerland plays Fabio Fognini of Italy
    Camilla also met chief steward Andrew Gairdner, who is retiring this year, before attending a private lunch.
    Charles, rumoured to rarely eat lunch, arrived later, meeting former British number one Henman.
    Charles also met former Australian tennis champions Frank Sedgman, Judy Dalton, Ashley Cooper and Neale Fraser.
    He and Camilla are due to visit Australia and New Zealand later this year as part of the series of royal tours to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
    Camilla meets service stewards at the All England Lawn Tennis Club
    Roger Federer bows to the Royal Box after winning his second-round match
    Courtesy: Camilla meets stewards at the All England Club (left) and Roger Federer (right) bows to the Royal Box after winning his second-round match
    Watson, ranked 103rd in the world, was on Court 2 when she beat Jamie Lee Hampton of the United States 6-1, 6-4. 
    She won the match's first five games to take control. 
    In the first round on Monday, Watson, 20, became the first British woman to win a match on Centre Court since 1985.
    Now she's the first woman from the host country to make it to the third round at the All England Club since Elena Baltacha in 2002. 
    Prince Charles watching a match between Dennis Ralston and John Newcombe, on the Centre Court, during his last visit to Wimbledon in 1970
    Prince Charles watching a match between Dennis Ralston and John Newcombe, on the Centre Court, during his last visit to Wimbledon in 1970
    Charles watching Roger Taylor and Rod Laver on Centre Court on June 29 1970
    Charles watching Roger Taylor and Rod Laver on Centre Court on June 29, 1970
    Hampton, who is ranked 100th, was playing in the first grass-court tournament of her career.
    Andy Murray's victory over Nikolay Davydenko was part of Britain's most successful start since 2006, when seven Britons made it through to the second round.
    Five Britons made it through to the second round this year, which could be six if Jamie Baker beats Andy Roddick when their match continues today.
    Murray joined James Ward and women Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong in the second round.
    Baker will continue his match against Roddick after it was suspended while he was a set down.
    Triumph: Heather Watson celebrates after defeating Jamie Lee Hampton in the second round
    Triumph: Heather Watson celebrates after defeating Jamie Lee Hampton in the second round
    Heather Watson clinches match point in her women's singles clash with Jamie Lee Hampton
    Watson won the second-round match in straight sets
    Delight: Watson won the match in straight sets to become the first British woman to reach the third round since Elena Baltacha in 2002
    Other Britons Laura Robson, Johanna Konta and Naomi Broady have all fallen by the wayside, along with Josh Goodall and Oli Golding.
    Organisers said 43,917 attended the club yesterday, down 524 on the same day last year. So far 85,738 people have attended the championships.
    Bookmakers William Hill said bets on Murray surged after his successful start.
    The bookie is offering 10/1 that Murray wins the championship, although he is tipped to exit at the semi-final stage at 15/8.
    Camilla met the chairman of the All England Club, Philip Brook
    Camilla met the chairman of the All England Club, Philip Brook
    Spokesman Rupert Adams said: 'Many believe that the first round was Andy Murray's best start to Wimbledon and are starting to believe that this could be his year after all.
    'That said, he has his work cut out with a possible meeting against (Rafael) Nadal in the semi-finals.'
    Watson was supported in the stands today by brother Adam, sister-in-law Sarah and niece Sophia while her parents Michelle and Ian and niece Lucy watched at home.
    She said: 'Words can't really describe how I'm feeling at the moment. I think it will sink in after I have a shower.
    'I was a bit nervous but I felt great out there.
    'My parents are at home. I'm not sure if they'll come over - they said they will leave me to get on with it.'
    VIDEO: Prince Charles visits SW19 for the first time since 1970... Camilla was smiling too... 



    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165459/Wimbledon-2012-Prince-Charles-meets-tennis-royalty-visit-1970.html#ixzz1z2Kz3E9I