Tennis fans were ordered not to take pictures of Meghan at Wimbledon

Meghan Markle was branded ‘childish’ today after it emerged her security team tried to stop tennis fans taking pictures of her at Wimbledon – including one mystified VIP who had no idea the royal was there.

Sally Jones, 64, was seated in the same row as the Duchess of Sussex who was there to see her close friend Serena Williams on Thursday.

Mrs Jones and people near the royal were apparently ordered not to take photographs because she was there ‘in a private capacity’ – even though there were 12,000 in Court 1 and more than a million people watching on TV.

The shocked PR consultant claims the bodyguard looked ’embarrassed’ at the request – and she told him she was actually taking a picture of Serena and hadn’t spotted Meghan until he pointed her out.

She said: ‘It saddens me that they are weakening their impact through this behaviour. It makes them look silly. It’s childish and takes us for fools’. 

A Wimbledon spectator photographs the Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon – but her security team apparently warned one woman not to do it calling it a ‘private’ event

Meghan Markle, 37, pictured with friends Genevieve HillsLindsay Roth, made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon today to cheer on her friend of ten years, Serena Williams,

Meghan Markle, 37, pictured with friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth, made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon on Thursday to cheer on her friend Serena Williams

Mrs Jones said the move was ‘another example of silly control freakery’, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were engulfed in a row over hiding the names of their son Archie’s baptism and keeping the public away from the Windsor ceremony on Saturday.

The 64-year-old spectator, who was previously a sports presenter for the BBC and ITV, said she was tapped on the shoulder by royal protection officer, who said: ‘Would you not take photographs of the Duchess. She’s here in a private capacity.’

She told the Telegraph: ‘I told him it was bonkers and that even if I had been trying to snap the Duchess, I’d have got a blurry picture of her right ear.

‘Apart from anything else, there were hundreds of people clicking away. I said to him, ‘Have you thought about having a word with any of those television cameras?’ He looked a little uncomfortable.’  

She added: ‘The whole thing seemed incredibly arbitrary. It was clear that I couldn’t have been less of a threat. I was an ordinary, middle-England spectator, there to watch the tennis’. 

A royal source told the newspaper: ‘It’s not unusual for people accompanying members of the Royal family at private, or public, events to ask members of the public not to take photographs. It is to enable members of the Royal family to engage with people and events’.

The christening photograph shows the Duke and Duchess with their son, Archie and (left to right) the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Windsor Castle on Saturday

The christening photograph shows the Duke and Duchess with their son, Archie and (left to right) the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Windsor Castle on Saturday

An official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows the royal couple with son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Windsor Castle on Saturday

An official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows the royal couple with son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Windsor Castle on Saturday

Meghan, who has been cruelly dubbed a ‘pushy princess’ by some, was spotted on the iconic Court One on Thursday, cheering on her close friend Serena. 

But it would appear that one seat was not enough for the 37-year-old as four rows – and as many as 40 seats – surrounding her were kept empty by her security detail while VIPS were left queuing outside.

Flanked by her two closest friends, Genevieve Hillis Lindsay Roth, Meghan turned up in blue jeans to take her place in the exclusive members’ section where there is normally a strict dress code banning denim.

However, the All England Club refused to comment on the dress code for that section and merely insisted she was ‘perfectly well dressed’.

Her personal assistant and a palace press officer sat behind her as well as a number of security guards.

The Duchess, who wore a hat and a white jacket, was spotted laughing and clapping as she watched her Williams secure her place in the third round of the Championships.

But while most of the section was kept empty, a long queue of special guests, believed to include a number of members, was developing outside as they tried to get on between match breaks to see the seven-time Wimbledon winner.

In contrast, Kate Middleton, who is an honorary member and patron of the prestigious club, turned up wearing a bespoke white dress on Tuesday and was happy to sit among the crowds on Court 14.

On Saturday the Duke and Duchess of Sussex refused any public access to Archie’s christening and banned television cameras from recording guests arriving. 

The Queen will also not release a copy of her great-grandson Archie’s baptism certificate after they asked to keep the names of the godparents private. 

Confirmation that the certificate – which is made public in other Church of England baptisms – will not be made available tightens Harry and Meghan’s grip on the information blackout.

The notoriously private couple took advantage of the fact that the ceremony will be held in the Queen’s Private Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The tiny venue, which is separate from St George’s Chapel where the Duke and Duchess married last year, is a Royal Peculiar.

Under archaic rules this means it belongs to the monarch, who is head of the church, and does not come under the jurisdiction of a bishop.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘It is a private chapel, administered and operated by the team at St George’s Chapel and records are held in the Royal Register.

‘It does sit under the Royal Peculiar and authority of the Chapels rests with the Queen.

‘The baptism will be registered on the royal register and held privately, as other royal baptism have been.’

Baptism certificates include the names of the child’s godparents and Archie’s parents stated this week they would never name the people asked to fulfil that role.

But the decision to remain private caused controversy as it involves the seventh in line to the throne being welcomed into the Church of England by its second most senior figure, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby.

Royal experts believe there is no precedent for the names of senior royals’ godparents being kept secret.

The media had full access to the christenings of all of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children’s christenings.

The decision not to release Archie’s certificate drew criticism yesterday.

Anti-monarchy campaigners Republic said: ‘The same law should apply to everybody. This is one of the many, many examples where that’s not the case for the royal family.

‘It is similar to wills, which are kept hidden when they die, even though everyone else has to publish them.’

Archie’s godparents are likely to include friends of Meghan, including Benita Litt, an old friend from Los Angeles, along with Lindsay Roth and Genevieve Hillis, who she met at Northwestern University in the US and accompanied the Duchess to Wimbledon on Thursday.

But the Duchess’ oldest confidant, Jessica Mulroney, a stylist to the stars who bonded with the former actress on the set of the TV show Suits, remained the odds-on favourite for a godmother role

As speculation and rumour continued, another fancied contender for a godmother role is fashion designer Misha Nonoo, who is credited with introducing Harry to his future wife via a blind date.

Harry’s choices are expected to include childhood friend Jake Warren, son of the Queen’s bloodstock manager, and childhood mentor and confidante Mark Dyer.

Financier Charlie Van Straubenzee is a strong favourite, having once been known as Harry’s ‘wingman’, while international business developer Nicholas van Cutsem was also thought to be in contention. Formerly a major with the Household Cavalry Life Guards, Nicolas saw his daughter, Florence, walk down the aisle as a bridesmaid at Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

Who are in line to be Archie’s royal godparents? 

ON MEGHAN’S SIDE

THE MOTHER OF MEGHAN’S GODCHILDREN: Benita Litt

If Meghan decides a reciprocal godparenting arrangement might be best, then she may well look to the mother of her own godchildren.

Benita Litt, mother to Remi and Rylan Litt, was spotted close to Meghan’s mother Doria at the royal wedding with the pair clearly delighted to be representing the Duchess’s side of the family.

A former entertainment lawyer, high-flying Benita has previously been on holiday with the royal – and if you needed any further proof of their solid friendship, the pair also spent Christmas 2016 together.

Benita Litt (pictured left at the Royal wedding with Meghan's mother Doria) is the mother of Meghan's godchildren Remi and Rylan Litt

Benita Litt (pictured left at the Royal wedding with Meghan’s mother Doria) is the mother of Meghan’s godchildren Remi and Rylan Litt

THE UNIVERSITY PAL: Lindsay Roth

Keeper of some of the Duchess’ oldest secrets, Lindsay Roth is a fellow alumni from Northwestern University in Illinois, where the pair bonded in an English literature class studying Toni Morrison’s works.

Now a successful TV producer and author, Lindsay has already bestowed a role on Meghan, choosing her to serve as her maid of honour at her wedding in 2016.

Lindsay Roth (pictured with Meghan) is one of her oldest friends and a fellow alumni from Meghan's time spent studying literature at Northwestern

Lindsay Roth (pictured with Meghan) is one of her oldest friends and a fellow alumni from Meghan’s time spent studying literature at Northwestern

On Harry’s side

THE SECOND FATHER: Mark Dyer

Mark Dyer has been noted as a ‘second father’ to Prince Harry throughout his upbringing and a mentor alongside the royal’s former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.

Cheltenham ­College educated Dyer, known as Marko to friends, became a steadying big brother figure to the princes in the mid-Nineties when he worked as an equerry to the Prince of Wales for 18 months.

Prince Charles appointed Dyer to keep an eye on his sons, and he was brought in as a male counterpart to former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.

During the first half term after Diana’s death, when the boys would have been with their mother, Prince Charles was committed to a five day visit to Africa.

He took Harry along and while the Prince carried out engagements, Harry went off on safari in Botswana, organised by Mark.

From then on he was a key guiding figure as Harry and William tried to come to terms with the loss of their mother.

After his spell as an employee to the Prince ended he remained a mentor to Harry.

In 2009 Mark founded the management company MDM Bars and Pubs and runs two pubs The Sand’s End and The Brown Cow, in south-west London which both became haunts of Prince Harry.

Mark’s six-year-old son Jasper, who is Prince Harry’s godson, was chosen as a page boy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding.

Mark Dyer (pictured with Harry) has been described as a 'second father' to Prince Harry following his mother Princess Diana's death

Mark Dyer (pictured with Harry) has been described as a ‘second father’ to Prince Harry following his mother Princess Diana’s death

THE FATHER OF HARRY’S GODCHILD: Jake Warren

Jake Warren and his wife Zoe attended the couple’s wedding, and their daughter Zalie – who is one of Prince Harry’s godchildren – was chosen to be a flower girl.

The godson of Princess Diana, Jake grew up alongside Prince Harry and has often been spotted with him at events including Ascot.

The Warren family are closely connected to the royals through horse-racing. Jake’s father John Warren is the Queen’s racing manager.

The father-and-son team run Highclere Stud in Newbury together.

Jake Warren and his wife Zoe had their daughter Zali, who is one of Prince Harry's godchildren, attended their wedding (Harry and Jake pictured together at Royal Ascot in 2014)

Jake Warren and his wife Zoe had their daughter Zali, who is one of Prince Harry’s godchildren, attended their wedding (Harry and Jake pictured together at Royal Ascot in 2014)

 

 

 

 

 

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