How will ‘Princess Privacy’ deal with Wimbledon this time around? As rumours swirl about Meghan going to SW19, her last appearance saw her branded ‘childish’ after tennis fans were ordered not to take photos of her

Wimbledon is synonymous with strawberries and cream, world-class tennis, Roger Federer and the Royal Family – with senior members of The Firm frequently pictured at Centre Court.

But Meghan Markle seemingly found being photographed so irksome that spectators were apparently forced to put their camera phones away when the Duchess of Sussex attended the tennis tournament in 2019.

Shortly after giving birth to her son Prince Archie, the former Suits actress made an unannounced visit to SW19 to catch her friend, Serena Williams, in action.

However, the day is now remembered less for Serena’s day four victory over Slovenian player Kaja Juvan and more for Meghan’s row over privacy that became known as ‘no photos’ gate, in which she was branded ‘childish’ and a ‘control freak’ by some attendees.

Piers Morgan and Kirstie Allsopp were among those who criticised Prince Harry ‘s wife after it emerged her bodyguards asked tennis fans not to take pictures of the Duchess because she ‘wanted to engage with people rather than camera phones’, a royal source claimed at the time.

Meghan also had a selection of exclusive seats overlooking Court One cleared out as members of her security team told ‘gobsmacked’ fans off for taking pictures in her vicinity – in stark contrast to the Princess of Wales ‘s relaxed visit to the All England Club yesterday.

Meghan has not attended the tennis tournament since then, as she and Prince Harry stepped down as senior royals and relocated to Montecito, California, in the quest for a more low-key and private life in early 2020.

However, the mother-of-two, who is an avid tennis fan, could be poised to return to Centre Court after a seven-year hiatus, if she accompanies Prince Harry to the UK for their five-day visit to promote the Invictus Games. But will she be able to shake off the cruel title of ‘pushy princess’ this time around?

Meghan Markle seemingly found being photographed so irksome that spectators were apparently forced to put their camera phones away when the Duchess of Sussex attended the tennis tournament in 2019

Six months before Harry and Meghan quit the Royal Family, Meghan, then 37, sparked fierce backlash when she made an unannounced visit to SW19 ‘in a private capacity’ to watch American tennis superstar and her long-term pal Serena Williams play.

Flanked by two of her friends from Northwestern University, Meghan was pictured wearing a white pinstriped blazer over a black shirt, skinny blue jeans, and a boater hat as she cheered for Serena, who was playing against Kaja Juvan.

However, the atmosphere soon became tense after her bodyguards approached unsuspecting fans and asked them not to take photos of the Duchess as she was there to support her friend ‘in a private capacity – despite 12,000 other attendees watching the match.

Former BBC sports journalist Sally Jones, who was in the stands that day, was among those warned against photographing the new mother, who had just given birth to her son, Prince Archie.

In an awkward moment, Mrs Jones was forced to clarify that she was ‘trying to take pictures of Serena’ after Meghan’s royal protection officer approached her.

‘I was trying to take pictures of Serena Williams – the next thing [there was] a little tap on the shoulder. A very, very polite royal protection officer said, ‘Would you kindly not take pictures of the Duchess, she’s here in a private capacity.’

Mrs Jones told how she was ‘absolutely gobsmacked’ by the request since there were ‘around 200 photographers snapping away at her’ and branded Meghan’s behaviour ‘control freakery’ and ‘childish’.

Speaking to the Daily Mail at the time, she said: ‘Harry and Meghan see themselves more as A-list celebrities rather than royals carrying out their duties. It’s control-freakery.

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Shortly after giving birth to her son Prince Archie, the former Suits actress made an unannounced visit to SW19 to catch her friend, Serena Williams, in action

Members of her security team apparently asked tennis fans not to take pictures of the Duchess because she ‘wanted to engage with people rather than camera phones’

Meghan also had a selection of exclusive seats overlooking Court One cleared out as members of her security team warned ‘gobsmacked’ against taking pictures in her vicinity as well

‘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,’ she added.

Another spectator revealed how he was warned about taking pictures in Meghan’s vicinity after he was told off for taking a selfie.

Hasan Hasanov, who was pictured with his mobile phone facing the Duchess, told the Daily Mail he was trying to get a picture of himself with Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the background – adding he hadn’t even noticed Meghan.

The grandfather, from Wallington, south London, told The Sun: ‘I honestly couldn’t really care less about taking a picture of Meghan, Harry or any of the royals – and, if I did, I’d ask first. I was much more interested in getting a video of Roger Federer in action.’

Mrs Jones added ‘everyone is getting more and more fed up with Harry and Meghan’s approach’ to royal life, adding: ‘Their wish to control things is in stark contrast with the Cambridges [now Waleses], who appear far more sensible. Kate was at Wimbledon two days earlier and acted completely differently.

‘The photograph incident is the latest in a long list of things, such as the confusion over when Meghan went into labour, where she 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.’

Meghan, who had been cruelly dubbed a ‘pushy princess’ by some, attended the match with two of her friends from Northwestern University, Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth.

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

Her personal assistant and a palace press officer sat behind her, along with a number of security guards.

Meanwhile, Catherine, who is patron of the All England Club, was happy to sit among the crowds, as photos showed her enjoying one of the matches alongside Andy Murray at the Championships yesterday.

Meanwhile, Catherine, who is patron of the All England Club, was happy to sit among the crowds during a surprise visit yesterday

In a break from tradition, the future Queen did not sit in the Royal Box but watched up-and-coming British star Arthur Fery, 23, play Otto Virtanen on the outside courts alongside former British number one Tim Henman.

X users praised her down-to-earth nature, with one person writing Catherine is a ‘true tennis fan’.

‘Sign of a true tennis fan to see Princess Kate, showing up at Wimbledon and sitting at the outer courts, away from the Royal Box and Centre Court, to catch some third-round tennis,’ they wrote.

Before getting stuck in the day’s matches, she also helped hand out grounds passes to tennis fans, some of whom had camped overnight in Wimbledon Park to secure coveted access to the tournament.

At the time, Piers Morgan weighed in on ‘no photos’ gate, as the incident became known, telling the Duchess ‘to go back to America and live privately’ six months before she and Harry moved stateside.

In a segment on Good Morning Britain, the broadcaster said: ‘A private capacity, at Wimbledon? This is so ridiculous. It’s frankly hypocritical, and they’re not private people, they’re the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. If you want to be private, go back to America and live privately.’

American actress Tatum O’Neal, who famously dated tennis great John McEnroe, said she had hoped Meghan would be ‘the next Princess Diana’ and take after her husband’s late mother.

However, her behaviour at Wimbledon was ‘tacky’, she told Mr Morgan, when she appeared on GMB to discuss her Hollywood career as an actress and relationships with McEnroe and Michael Jackson.

Child star O’Neal, now 62, said: ‘To have a bodyguard muscle somebody out, I just think is so tacky.

‘It’s so upsetting to me because if you think about Princess Diana and how absolutely inclusive she was and how she would never turn anyone away, and I just had so much hope for Meghan, I wanted her to be the next Princess Diana, and it seems like it’s all about her, and it’s really upsetting me.’

Location, Location, Location star Kirstie Allsopp tweeted: ‘If you earn money by entertaining, in sport or media, or by being a member of the royal family, photos are part of the deal – because you’re b****y lucky to have the privileges that come with the jobs & the wages.’

Soon after, Meghan and Harry moved across the pond with Prince Archie, before welcoming their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in 2021.

They have remained estranged from Prince Harry’s family in the wake of ‘Megxit’, but the Sussexes were expected to visit the UK later this month with their children for the first time in four years.

Harry and Meghan, who are currently in Europe with Archie and Lilibet, were planning a five-day trip to the UK as the countdown to the Duke’s Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027 begins.

The trip was set to include a visit to King Charles as well as a poignant stop at Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, is buried.

Archie and Lilibet have not seen their grandfather since their last trip to Britain in June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

However, Prince Harry has been reconsidering bringing his wife and children to the UK after his request for police protection was turned down at the ’11th hour’.

Despite the setback, a spokesperson for the Sussexes told People magazine that the Duke is ‘exploring every option’ to bring Archie and Lilibet to the UK safely.

They said that while King Charles has offered the family use of a royal residence during their time in the UK, ‘the issue has never been accommodation’.

The statement read: ‘The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit.

‘The independent Risk Management Board that RAVEC itself decided was necessary last November has still not taken place. It is therefore difficult to understand how the proportionality of the current arrangements can credibly be maintained without that independent assessment.’

‘The Duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK.’