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 in the crowd.
The former Suits star, 37, made a surprise visit to Court 1 on Thursday to watch Serena Williams accompanied by her old friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth, who could be among Archie’s secret godparents.
Sally Jones, 64, was seated in the same row as the Duchess of Sussex and during the match was ordered not to take photographs in her direction 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.
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the row today – but a royal source told MailOnline: ‘It’s not uncommon for personal protection officers accompanying any members of the Royal Family to ask people not to take pictures so they can engage with people and events rather than camera phones’.
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 her team insists she was there in a private capacity amid a row over spectators being warned by her security not to take pictures
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 taking this picture of Serena Williams (right) and had no clue Meghan was there
A spectator takes a selfie from the gantry below the Duchess on Court 1 at Wimbledon on Thursday
A member of the royal 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 taking a selfie with the famous tennis court in the background, which was clearly 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 Serena
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 saying that any claim it was a private event is ‘absurd’
Harry and Meghan must ‘be less Hollywood glamour and more royal’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a statement when they released two of the three official engagement photos in black and white, including the one above
A royal expert has claimed the palace officials who used a series of ‘cunning moves’ to ease Camilla into the spotlight, should encourage Harry and Meghan to become ‘less Hollywood and more royal’.
Caroline Frost revealed how Prince Charles, 70, had undergone an image overhaul in recent years, and Camilla’s increased presence at official events – which helped her ‘acceptance by the public’ – was part of that.
Caroline then addressed the recent pictures released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Archie’s christening, claiming that the ‘stylised’ black and white images they favour have an element of ‘Hollywood glamour’ about them.
The expert then argued that she hoped officials would help them ‘ease off the Hollywood glamour and be more royal’.
Speaking about the pictures released from Archie’s christening ceremony at Windsor Castle on Saturday, Caroline said: ‘We’ve seen that Prince Charles’ image has had an overhaul in the last decade or so, and the acceptance of his wife.
‘People have been making some very civilised and cunning manoeuvres to put Camilla in the public eye, and to basically all round praise and approval.
‘So I would hope they would get somebody in who will say [to Harry and Meghan] ‘let’s just ease off on the Hollywood glamour, bit more royalty’.’
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 control 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 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 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.
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 12,000 crowd around her
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 watched by millions around the world
The Duchess of Sussex appeared to be surrounded by security and staff as she watched Serena beat Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan on Thursday
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.
Meghan attended Wimbledon two days before her son Archie’s christening in Windsor
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.
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.
A swathe of seats were left empty around the Duchess – it is not known if they were cleared for her in advance
Royal sources have insisted that it is not unusual for royal security to ask people not to take photographs so ‘members of the Royal Family can engage with people and events rather than camera phones’
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
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 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.
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 Markle is in talks with Vogue to have a regular column in both the magazine’s US and UK editions focusing on her charity work, after Amal Clooney ‘encouraged Duchess to promote her philanthropy projects’
By Ruth Styles in LA for DailyMail.com
The Duchess of Sussex is in discussions with Anna Wintour about writing a regular column focusing on her charity work for Vogue, DailyMail.com can disclose.
Sources close to the talks say the monthly feature would be similar to the article being put together to accompany her upcoming photoshoot for the publication’s September issue in the UK.
But Meghan will not appear on the cover of the magazine due to her reported desire for the story to focus on women’s empowerment instead of her.
And, in a further sign that the new mother favors media based in her native US, both the imminent photoshoot and her putative columns are slated to run in American as well as British Vogue.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Conde Nast US and UK declined to comment to DailyMail.com after repeated requests over the course of a week.
The talks come amid mounting criticism of her and Prince Harry’s attempt to stop British taxpayers knowing basic details about their son Archie’s life – including a refusal this weekend to say who the godparents were at his christening – despite spending $3 million of public funds renovating their new residence, Frogmore Cottage.
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘The spread in Vogue won’t be a superficial photoshoot – on the contrary, she wants to use it as a platform to make a difference.
‘She is working with Vogue as a contributing editor on a few fabulous stories about the causes that are near and dear to her and it may eventually become a regular column.
‘Anna Wintour is also part of the talks and is in discussion about running some or all of the stories in US Vogue.’
The Duchess of Sussex is in discussions with Anna Wintour about writing a regular column focusing on her charity work for Vogue, DailyMail.com can disclose. Meghan has maintained a low profile since giving birth to Archie at the beginning of May and is understood to see the Vogue spread as the perfect way to ease herself back into royal life. Pictured: Meghan at Archie’s christening at the Queen’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday (pictured)
The collaboration was partially inspired by Amal Clooney (pictured with her husband George at Meghan and Harry’s wedding last May), according to the source, who encouraged Meghan to use Vogue to promote her charity work
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘The spread in Vogue won’t be a superficial photoshoot – on the contrary, she wants to use it as a platform to make a difference. She is working with Vogue as a contributing editor on a few fabulous stories about the causes that are near and dear to her and it may eventually become a regular column’
The collaboration with Vogue was partially inspired by Amal Clooney, according to the source, who encouraged the Duchess to use the magazine to promote her charity work.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz is in talks to shoot the initial piece, which insiders said would see the Duchess pose in outfits created by emerging designers whose backstories will be linked to her favorite causes such as mental health and women’s rights.
The source added: ‘It’s all being planned out but it will be sensational and really shine a spotlight on some very worthwhile organizations.’
A source told the Express newspaper that the Duchess had been offered the cover but declined so she does not take attention away from the causes she wants to feature.
Meghan is not the first royal to appear in British Vogue, with sister-in-law Kate appearing on the front cover in June 2016.
Princess Diana featured on the cover three times, while Princess Anne has also appeared three times: in September 1971, May 1973 and November 1973.
No serving British royal has ever appeared in US Vogue – although Princess Diana did make the cover following her divorce from Prince Charles and the removal of her HRH status in 1997.
Meghan is not the first royal to appear in British Vogue, with sister-in-law Kate (left) appearing on the front cover in June 2016 and Princess Diana featured on the cover three times (right)
A source told DailyMail.com: ‘Anna Wintour is also part of the talks and is in discussion about running some or all of the stories in US Vogue.’ Pictured: Vogue editor Wintour in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Monday
Anything that does appear in US Vogue risks raising eyebrows after Meghan was accused of giving the American press preferential treatment in the wake of son Archie’s arrival – including allowing CBS to film the new baby in addition to British broadcasters.
CBS This Morning host Gayle King was present at her $500,000 New York baby shower.
Prince Harry is currently working alongside Oprah Winfrey – a close friend of King – on a documentary for Apple TV focusing on mental health.
The Duchess has also has an American PR supremo in Sara Latham whose previous role was as a senior advisor for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
British-born Wintour, 69, is no stranger to royalty and was pictured sitting next to the Queen in February 2018 during the Richard Quinn show at London Fashion Week.
In May 2017, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire and was presented with her gong by the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
She has also spent time with other members of the Royal Family, including the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex, and became friends with Princess Diana after her divorce from Prince Charles.
Wintour’s British Vogue counterpart Edward Enninful, 47, has had fewer meetings with the royals but did receive an OBE from Princess Anne in 2014 and has also met the Duchess of Cambridge.
British-born Wintour, 69, is no stranger to royalty and was pictured sitting next to the Queen in February 2018 during the Richard Quinn show at London Fashion Week
He and Wintour are understood to have clashed over the Queen’s appearance at Richard Quinn – while the US Vogue editor was aware she would attend, Enninful was not so flew to Milan and missed the show.
Enninful, who was born in Ghana, has waged a campaign to diversify the team and look of British Vogue since taking over the magazine in August 2017.
Among his first appointments were supermodel Naomi Campbell and director Steve McQueen – both of whom joined the team as contributing editors.
Meghan is no stranger to the media and was an enthusiastic writer and blogger herself prior to meeting Prince Harry, 34.
Among her work was an article for Elle in which she described growing up biracial in Los Angeles and a blog called The Tig – named for her favorite wine, Tiganello, a red from Italy which retails for upwards of $120 a bottle.
The blog was billed as a ‘hub for the discerning palate – those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion, beauty’ and was comprised of a series of articles mostly written by Meghan herself, documenting her travels and her passion for sustainability.
It also featured ‘Tig Talk’ interviews conducted by the Duchess that profiled famous acquaintances such as model Jessica Stam and actress Emmy Rossum. She deleted it after beginning her relationship with Prince Harry.
And although her personal Instagram account was closed down on her engagement, Meghan is thought to be overseeing the @sussexroyal page and has used it to share arty photos of Archie, including a shot of the newborn clutching his father’s finger.
Meghan is no stranger to the media and was an enthusiastic writer and blogger herself prior to meeting Prince Harry, 34. She had a blog called The Tig – named for her favorite wine, Tiganello, a red from Italy which retails for upwards of $120 a bottle
Meghan has maintained a low profile since giving birth to Archie at the beginning of May and is understood to see the Vogue spread as the perfect way to ease herself back into royal life.
The Duchess has, however, made several appearances since presenting Archie to the world at Windsor Castle – including the Trooping the Color parade alongside Harry, the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier this month and a trip to see Serena Williams play at Wimbledon last Thursday.
Her maternity leave was given as the reason for her not being able to take part in President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK at the start of June and she also missed out on the traditional visit to Royal Ascot two weeks ago.
Meghan did appear in photos released to mark baby Archie’s christening at the Queen’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday.
The Duchess is due to officially return to work at the start of September and will visit South Africa alongside Prince Harry in the Fall.
The visit was announced by the British High Commissioner to the African country, Nigel Casey.
Casey told local media that the couple will be arriving in October. Newborn Archie is understood to be accompanying his parents on the trip, which will also see Prince Harry visit Angola and Botswana.
