Meghan Markle was branded ‘childish’ and a ‘control freak’ today after it emerged her security team warned tennis fans against taking pictures of her at Wimbledon – including one mystified VIP who had no idea the royal was there.
The former actress, 37, made a surprise appearance to Court 1 on Thursday to watch Serena Williams play accompanied by old friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth.
Sally Jones, 64, was seated in the same row as the Duchess of Sussex and was ordered not to take photographs because the royal was there ‘in a private capacity’ – even though there were 12,000 people in Court 1 and millions watching on TV.
The shocked PR consultant from Warwickshire, who worked as a sports broadcaster for the BBC and ITV for decades, said Meghan’s bodyguard looked ’embarrassed’ when she told him she was actually taking a picture of Serena and revealed she hadn’t spotted Meghan until he pointed her out.
Mrs Jones told MailOnline the Duchess was ‘clearly looking around looking to see who was looking at her’, adding: ‘Harry and Meghan see themselves more as A-list celebrities rather than royals carrying out their duties. It’s control-freakery’.
She added: ‘There were around 200 photographers snapping away at her but security were sent to warn an old biddy like me. It makes them look silly. It’s childish and takes us for fools’.
Another spectator took a selfie of himself and Court 1 near her – but Meghan’s bodyguard also warned him about taking pictures.
Piers Morgan weighed in on the row today and told Good Morning Britain viewers: ‘A private capacity, at Wimbledon? This is so ridiculous. It’s rankly hypocritical and they’re not private people, they’re the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. We get to pay for their mansion, we get to do all of this’.
Meghan Markle claps and cheers Serena Williams on Court 1 at Wimbledon on Thursday but says she was there in a private capacity amid a row over spectators being warned by her security not to take pictures
A spectator takes a selfie from the gantry below the Duchess on Court 1 at Wimbledon on Thursday during what her staff claim was a private visit
A member of her security team (pictured) then asked the man not to take any pictures near her amid claims a number of people were warned off
The man spoken to by the bodyguard was taken a selfie of himself with the court in the background, which was shown on the screen of his mobile phone
Meghan Markle, 37, pictured with friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth, made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon on Thursday to cheer on her friend
Meghan and her friends (far right, centre of picture) watched the match from an area largely cleared of other spectators
The Duchess of Sussex stayed to celebrate as Serena Williams won on Court 1 (left) before being swept away by her security team (right)
Piers Morgan lashed out at the royal today amid a continuing row over privacy
Sally Jones, pictured at Wimbledon this week, was upset after being asked not to take pictures in the direction of the royal – but she was trying to snap Meghan not her
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 utterly confused when a royal protection officer told her: ‘Would you not take photographs of the Duchess. She’s here in a private capacity.’
She told MailOnline: ‘I felt this tap on my shoulder and was asked not to take pictures of the Duchess – but I had no idea she was there until then. I was absolutely gobsmacked.
‘I looked across and saw that she was between two of her friends, wearing sunglasses, and a hat – but she was clearly looking around looking to see who was looking at her.
‘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. I said to him: “Have you thought about having a word with any of those television cameras?’ He looked a little uncomfortable.’
‘There is now a clear sense that Harry, Meghan and their team see themselves more as A-list celebrities rather than royals carrying out their duties. Their wish to controls things is in stark contrast with the Cambridges who appear far more sensible. Kate was at Wimbledon two days earlier and acted completely differently.
‘I’m a royalist but everyone is getting more and more fed up with Harry and Meghan’s approach. The photograph incident is the latest in a long list of things such as the confusion over when Meghan went into Labour where she and had the baby and more recently the secrecy over the names of the godparents. It’s all completely unnecessary and they are trying to score points’.
Kensington Palace has not commented on the incident, but a royal source told the Telegraph: ‘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’.
Meghan had two friends with her – both of whom were probably at Archie’s christening on Saturday – with a royal protection officer and her PA in the row behind her
When Meghan arrived for the match there were more people seated around her but they largely disappeared by the end of the match. It is not known if they were moved or just left before the match ended
Serena won the match in three sets, leading to a standing ovation from her three friends in the crowd
Meghan was reportedly at the match as a guest of Serena but there are questions over whether she can reasonably expect privacy at the world’s most famous tennis championships
The Duchess of Sussex appeared to be surrounded by security and staff as she watched Serena beat Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan on Thursday
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.
Meghan attended Wimbledon two days before her son Archie’s christening in Windsor
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.
A swathe of seats were left empty around the Duchess – it is not known if they were cleared
Royal sources have insisted that it is not unusual for royal security to ask people not to takle photographs
Two days earlier the Duchess of Cambridge joined Katie Boulter (left) and Anne Keothavong (right) as they watch Harriet Dart on an outside court at Wimbledon
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.
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.’
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
Archie’s godparents will have included 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
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 may have included 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.