STANDARDS and royalty were in the spotlight this week when Lewis Hamilton missed the men’s singles final at Wimbledon after being refused entry to the Royal Box because he wasn’t wearing a jacket and tie.

The Formula One world champion, who said he was honoured to have been invited, clearly hadn’t – or more to the point his people hadn’t – read the invitation that stated the dress code.

Instead he turned up with straw pork pie hat, shades and a floral shirt, looking more rapper than dapper.

Gary Lineker has described the decision as “England at its pompous worst”, but why should allowances be made for Lewis Hamilton? He’s a world champion, but he’s not a member of royalty.

Of course it’s pompous, that’s the point. The institution of royalty is grandiose and pretentious, but it’s quintessentially British, just like Wimbledon, strawberries and cream and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. If you want to be part of that exclusive club, you have to know the rules. Looking the part is one of them.

Like every average Joe who’s been turned away from a club for wearing jeans and trainers, Hamilton could have gone home and changed or brought something with him. And I’m sure if he’d still been with Nicole, she’d have whipped off her pantyhose and fashioned him a tie and given him her blazer.

Actually, if he’d still been with Nicole, she wouldn’t have allowed him out looking like he was dressed for an Ibiza beach party....but then she’s American and they seem to know our British rules better than we do.

Lewis wouldn’t think of turning up to a sportsmens’ gala dinner without a penguin suit, so why should he imagine that his dressed-down get-up would be to Her Majesty’s pleasure.

And as for the other sportsmen defending him because he happens to be able to drive fast – get over yourselves! The tradition of Wimbledon makes it the prestigious world event it is. If the pomp is relaxed then it becomes just another tennis competition. It would be like Formula One without the groupies and magnum of Champagne.

I’m neither a fan of Wimbledon nor the Royal Family – and Prince Philip’s foul-mouthed outburst to a photographer last week demonstrated certain members are no more genteel than you or I. But some traditions are part of our British heritage and should never be relaxed – no matter how big the celebrity trying to flout them.