Wimbledon fans ‘ordered not to take pictures of Meghan Markle’

Since joining the Royal Family, Meghan Markle has imposed some strict privacy rules – especially when it comes to her and Prince Harry’s son Archie.

So, it was really no surprise that tennis fans were ‘ordered not to take pictures of the Duchess of Sussex’ when she made a surprise appearance in the royal box at Wimbledon on Thursday to watch pal Serena Williams play.

However, Meghan has been branded ‘childish’ and a ‘control freak’ after her security crew warned spectators at Court 1 against snapping images of her – even though 12,000 people were sat in the crowds and millions watched on TV.

One guest was told off by Meghan’s bodyguard for pulling up his phone, but could clearly be seen snapping a selfie of himself with the court in the background.

PR consultant Sally Jones was also given a lecture, but said the security staff was left ’embarrassed’ when she told them she was taking a picture of Serena and had not spotted the royal.

Jones, 64, who was seated on the same row as the duchess, told the Daily Mail, Meghan was ‘clearly looking around to see who was looking at her’.

She told of the incident: ‘I felt a 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.’

Jones 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.’

Jones said it was ‘another example of silly control freakery’ after the couple faced backlash for deciding to keep Archie’s christening and godparents private.

Piers Morgan also joined in and said it was ‘absurd’ for Meghan to ‘demand privacy as she sits in the royal box on a publicly-funded jolly with her mates’.

Piers told Meghan to ‘go back to America’ if she wants to be treated as a private citizen on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain.

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.’

As many as 40 seats surrounding Meghan were kept empty by her security team.

Meghan, who wore blue jeans, a blazer, sunglasses and a hat, was joined by close friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth as they watched Serena beat Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan on Thursday.

It was believed she broke the Wimbledon etiquette with her denim outfit, but All England Club refused to comment and insisted she was ‘perfectly well dressed’.

She arrived at the tournament two days after sister-in-law Kate Middleton attended – amid rumours of a row between the two royal couples.

Kate was happy to sit among the crowds on Court 14 last Tuesday.