Wimbledon may be known for its suspenseful rallies and all-white dress code, but Hugh Grant added an unexpected twist this year — by falling asleep just a row behind Queen Camilla.
The 64-year-old actor was spotted dozing off during Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final match against Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday, July 9, in the prestigious Royal Box. Cameras quickly caught the moment, with the usually charming star appearing blissfully unaware of both the historic match and the royal company nearby.
Despite being seated alongside his wife, TV producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein, and within whispering distance of Queen Camilla, Grant’s nap became the accidental headline of the day.
Social media reacts to Wimbledon’s most expensive nap
The internet didn’t take long to notice. “Not convinced Hugh Grant is awake,” one user quipped on X. Another joked, “It’s the most expensive nap in human history,” referencing the exclusive nature (and hefty price) of Royal Box seating.
Others were more critical. “There are fans who queue from 3 am to get into Wimbledon,” one user pointed out. “And Hugh Grant slept through a tiebreak!” Another simply labeled it “a £700 nap.”
BBC Sport even joined in on the joke, posting: “It’s all got a bit too much for Hugh Grant,” alongside a screenshot of the actor mid-slumber.
From cheerful banter to shut-eye
Before nodding off, Grant appeared to be enjoying himself — smiling and chatting with Queen Camilla and her sister Annabel in the early part of the match. But clearly, either the sun or the pace of the game caught up with him.
Other celebrities in the Royal Box seemed wide awake. Cate Blanchett, Glen Powell, and Joe Alwyn were among the attentive spectators who watched Djokovic advance to his record 14th Wimbledon semi-final.
As for Queen Camilla, she remained fully alert throughout the event and even held a private exchange with Djokovic himself after the match. When asked about their conversation, the tennis legend stayed tight-lipped. “It was a very pleasant exchange,” he told reporters. “She asked me something I didn’t expect — it wasn’t about tennis.”
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla received a warm welcome upon her arrival at Centre Court, earning applause from the crowd — a moment some online fans were quick to highlight. “Eat that, haters,” one wrote. “Camilla just got a standing ovation at Wimbledon.”
As for Hugh Grant, he hasn’t commented publicly about his mid-match nap. But if there were ever a time to sleep through history — perhaps a Centre Court tiebreak wasn’t the ideal moment.