Why did Prince George, 12, wear a suit and tie at Wimbledon during the heatwave?

Prince George was ever so smart as he attended Wimbledon this weekend – wearing a full suit and tie despite soaring temperatures. 

The eldest son of Prince William And Kate joined his parents and his younger sister Princess Charlotte, 11, in the royal box on Centre Court.

The 12-year-old was clearly battling the heat, grabbing a sun hat and using a hand-held fan to keep cool as he watched the Men's Singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.  

But despite temperatures climbing to almost 30C, Prince George was seen in a navy suit, pale blue shirt and striped tie, just like his father, the Prince of Wales. 

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Taking to social media, people noted that they "felt bad" for the future King, and asked why he couldn't wear lighter clothing, such as a polo shirt, instead. 

However, George was merely obeying the strict dress code in the royal box. 

What do guests need to wear in the Royal Box at Wimbledon?

The Royal Box has a strict dress code, as invitations come directly from the chair of the All England Club. 

Instructions on the Wimbledon website read: "Protocol - dress is smart, suits/jacket and tie, etc. Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them."

This means that George's suit was a matter of following venue protocol. 

© PA Images via Getty Images

However, there have been exceptions to the hat rule in recent years due to rising temperatures during the tennis tournament. 

In addition, children aren't usually allowed in the Royal Box, but exceptions have been made in recent years for George and Charlotte. 

The Royal Box has been used for entertainment since 1922 and is now an exclusive 74-seat arena at Centre Court. 

During their day in the Royal Box, guests are also invited to the Clubhouse for lunch, tea, and drinks at the end of the day.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte return to Wimbledon

William, Kate, George and Charlotte arrived at the All England Club shortly after 3pm on Sunday and greeted a line-up of guests, including British wildcard Arthur Fery. 

Kate, who wore an olive green midi-dress from Emilia Wickstead, handed Fery a birthday card as she said hello to him.

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Later, during a conversation with Wimbledon winner Jannik Sinner, George and Charlotte revealed that they play tennis on the weekends. 

Sinner asked George if he was still playing tennis, to which the 12-year-old responded: "Yeah, very much so."

George, who will attend Eton College from September, stole the show throughout the day, with fans commenting on how quickly he is growing up. 

He looked effortlessly cool rocking brown-framed shades and a branded Wimbledon fedora, making his sister Charlotte laugh as he adjusted his hat.