Wimbledon: Celebrities return to Royal Box as sunshine returns

Celebrities flocked back to Wimbledon's Royal Box on Thursday as sunshine returned to the All England Club after Wednesday's washout. Blue skies and 24C temperatures welcomed fans who swapped their rain ponchos for sunhats as the tournament got back on track.

The star-studded guest list included adventurer Bear Grylls, broadcaster Sir Chris Bryant and actor Rory Kinnear. Former Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden and comedian Clive Anderson were also spotted enjoying the action from Centre Court's prestigious seats.

Musical legends join tennis royalty

Musician-turned-environmentalist Feargal Sharkey sat alongside Dutch tennis legend Betty Stove, who celebrated her 80th birthday in April. Stove famously reached three Wimbledon finals in 1977, cementing her place in the tournament's history.

The sporting contingent was equally impressive, featuring former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward and Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser. Incoming Lawn Tennis Association chairman William Jackson also attended, whilst Prince Michael of Kent led the royal representation.

Djokovic headlines packed schedule

The celebrities gathered to witness Novak Djokovic take on British hopeful Dan Evans on Centre Court. The match was followed by top women's seed Iga Swiatek facing American qualifier Caty McNally.

Meanwhile, men's top seed Jannik Sinner battled Australia's Aleksandar Vukic on No 1 Court. Rising star Mirra Andreeva then faced Italy's Lucia Bronzetti in what promised to be an entertaining encounter.

British hopes in evening action

The day's schedule concluded with Maria Sakkari taking on 2022 champion Elena Rybakina in a heavyweight clash. British fans had extra reason to stay late as Jack Draper prepared to face former US Open winner Marin Cilic.

The return of perfect playing conditions marked a welcome relief after Wednesday's rain disrupted the tournament schedule. Fans made the most of the sunshine as Wimbledon's fourth day delivered the star power and tennis action the championships are renowned for.

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.