Wimbledon VIPs including David Beckham 'discouraged' from watching World Cup

Wimbledon VIPs including David Beckham 'discouraged' from watching World Cup Football matches at the World Cup will not be shown on screens around the grounds Wimbledon officials will "discourage" VIPs in its royal box from keeping an eye on the World Cup, its chief executive has said. Famous names set to appear in the prestigious royal enclosure today will include former England footballer David Beckham, who has flown in from the US where he has been spotted at a number of matches. The football, including England's second round clash against DR Congo, will also not be shown on the screens. Sally Bolton OBE, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said: "We're not going to be showing the football on any of the big screens around the grounds, but clearly, if people have got their phones, then we're not going to prevent people from watching the football." Asked about whether they will stop VIPs in the royal box watching on their phones, Bolton said: "We do discourage people in the royal box from using their phones anyway." The tournament's famous queue, which enables fans to buy tickets on the day, closed by 10am this morning after officials counted 10,000 people in it by 8.30am. Bolton said fans are joining it earlier than in previous years by reaching Wimbledon by various means, including electronic hire bikes, rather than waiting for the first tube. Bolton said: "The queue is really busy this morning. We were at 10,000 by about 8.30, so we are advising people if they haven't already set off to travel not to travel, because the queue is effectively full. "The queue has become increasingly popular and people are getting there earlier and earlier because they recognise that the dynamics of travel have changed a little bit, so you do have to now get here really quite early to be at the front of the queue. "The time you used to have to arrive was the first tube into Southfields, but now with the availability of Lime and other available branded bikes, people can get to the queue much more easily from slightly further away, rather than waiting for the first tube. "So undoubtedly, the dynamics of the queue have changed and are constantly changing, and we are having to adapt the way that we operate it." Asked about fears the much-loved queue system is becoming too popular and may need to be assessed, Bolton said: "We are absolutely committed to what the queue stands for, which is accessibility. People have the opportunity, if they're willing to queue and probably camp overnight, to get a Centre Court ticket for a day here at the championships, and that is something we are absolutely committed to protecting." She added: "It's very busy, you know, by comparison to last year, it is really busy. But, you know, all of the ingredients are there, we've got amazing matches, the sun is shining, you know, all of those ingredients to make it so popular. It's such an important part of what we do, so we'll do everything we can to protect it." Meanwhile, spectators are keeping cool by buying official handheld fans priced at a whopping £20. The mechanical devices, which have the tournament's famous logo in the middle, are being sold at shops around the grounds, where temperatures are expected to reach more than 25 degrees. Tennis nuts are also attempting to stay hydrated by drinking a new Strawberries & Cream themed pint of Stella at more than £9. The limited-edition beer is on sale around the grounds at the All England Club for a whopping £9.30 a pint. An ordinary pint of Stella is on sale at £8.95 - 10p more than last year. A 330ml version is on sale for £8.20, while a non-alcoholic pint of Stella costs £7.90. A print of Kopparberg Crisp Apple cider (4.5%) costs £8.90. A pint of Camden Eazy IPA (5%) is on sale for £8.90, while a pint of Camden Pale Ale costs £8.90. Champagne costs even more. A mini bottle of Lanson Le Rose is on sale for £31.35 - a £1.50 increase on last year. Half-sized bottles are on sale for £57.95, while a full-sized bottles of champagne is on sale for £102 - £1.10 more than last year. Fans can also buy a magnum of fizz for £228.80. A glass of Pimm's at the championships costs £13.45 - £1.20 more than last year, while a new "Centre Court Cooler" cocktail is on sale at £12.80. Meanwhile, 25ml house spirits are on sale for £4.95, while 25ml "premium spirits" cost £6.15. For wine lovers, a bottle of Ultimate Provence Rose, Cotes de Provence, costs £56.50, while a magnum is on sale at £117.20. Bottles of Petit Chenin Blanc, Ken Forrester, cost £58.50, while 175ml portions of Thirsty Birds Rose are available at £10.95. Reuseable 750ml bottles of Evian are priced at £5, a 330ml bottle of Evian sparkling mineral water is £2.70, while 330ml drinks of coca-cola zero and sprite are priced at £2.90. A 250ml portion of Frobishers Juice is on sale at £4.45, while a 250ml drink of Twinings Sparkling Tea costs £3.70. Meanwhile, a punnet of strawberries and cream is priced at £2.85 - 15p up on last year. Plant-based sausage (kimchi in a plant-based brioche roll, costs £8.70, while Cumberland sausage (crispy onions, brioche roll) is on sale at £8.70. Meanwhile, around 100 people, wearing giant ears while protesting against the proposed All England Club's expansion in Wimbledon Park, were part of a demonstration asking tournament bosses "are you listening?". A player protest, which would have seen stars including Jannik Sinner, curtail their media commitments as part of a call call for increased prize money, was called off after last-minute talks with Wimbledon bosses.