Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 28, 2025 · Entertainment

The 'Wimbledon Incident': Meghan Markle's Photo Ban Sparks Royal Controversy

In July 2019 Meghan, who married Prince Harry the year before, attended the tournament to watch friend Serena Williams 'in a private capacity'

WIMBLEDON WARS: MEGHAN MARKLE'S SECRET VISIT EXPOSES ROYAL FAMILY'S DIVISION

The sun-kissed lawns of Wimbledon are about to witness a royal rumble like no other! Last week, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, made a surprise appearance at the prestigious tennis tournament - and it was clear that she's still got game. But little did anyone know, her secret visit would spark a firestorm of controversy, revealing deep-seated divisions within the Royal Family.

THE PUSHY PRINCESS

The Duchess's bodyguards warned tennis fans not to take pictures of her so she could 'engage with people rather than camera phones'

Meghan arrived at Wimbledon in a private capacity, accompanied by her security detail. But things took a turn when tennis fans were warned not to take pictures of her - and some folks got more than they bargained for! Former tennis champion Sally Jones, who was on hand to watch Serena Williams play, told thescholarlynote.com that Meghan's bodyguards were like the royal Gestapo, warning people off from snapping pics.

"I felt like I was in a nightmare," Sally recalled. "I asked one of the guards why they couldn't let people take photos and he just shrugged it off. It was clear that Harry and Meghan see themselves as A-list celebrities rather than royals carrying out their duties."

ROYAL RIVALRY

Serena Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and friend of Meghan

But what's really got everyone talking is how this incident highlights the growing divide between Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle. Insiders close to the situation tell us that Harry and Meghan are increasingly at odds with the Cambridges over how they approach royal duties.

"Kate was at Wimbledon two days earlier and acted completely differently," a source revealed. "She didn't try to control every aspect of her visit or dictate what others could do. It's clear that Harry and Meghan have a very different way of doing things."

WIMBLEDON WARS: THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF FEUDS

Piers Morgan weighed in on the row, telling Good Morning Britain viewers: 'A private capacity, at Wimbledon? This is so ridiculous'

This isn't the first time Meghan has ruffled feathers at Wimbledon - remember when she and Kate were spotted together in 2019, only to reveal later that it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows? Now, sources close to the Queen are whispering that Her Majesty is "deeply disappointed" by Harry and Meghan's antics.

ROYAL FAMILY REEVALUATION

As the drama continues to unfold, many are wondering if this is just the tip of the iceberg. Could this be the moment when the Royal Family finally has to face the music? It's clear that Meghan Markle is no longer willing to play by the rules - and we can't help but wonder what other surprises she has in store for us.

A spectator took a photo of himself and Court 1 near her – but Meghan’s bodyguard warned him about taking pictures in her vicinity

WIMBLEDON WARS: THE VERDICT

In a nutshell, Meghan Markle's secret visit to Wimbledon exposed deep divisions within the Royal Family. It seems that Harry and Meghan are more interested in being seen as A-list celebrities rather than carrying out their royal duties. As the drama continues to unfold, one thing is clear - this isn't going to end well for anyone involved.

Stay tuned for further updates on the Wimbledone Wars!

A spectator was taking a selfie with the court in the background and said he had no idea the Duchess was there

Meghan's personal assistant and a Palace Press officer sat behind her, as well as a number of security guards

Meghan was dubbed a 'pushy princess' and called a 'control freak' for her actions

An official tasked with organising the event said: 'It was a nightmare, she was a nightmare'

An All England Club insider said she was not supposed to be wearing jeans in the members' areas

Four rows – and as many as 40 seats – surrounding her were kept empty by her security detail while VIPs were left queuing outside

Meghan returned to Wimbledon with the Princess of Wales and her sister Pippa Middleton the following week

At the time, it was believed the show of unity with Kate was to put any rumours of a feud to bed – but Meghan later said their Wimbledon appearances weren't as friendly as they seemed

Meghan told Oprah of her Wimbledon appearances with Kate: 'My understanding and my experience of the past four years is, it's nothing like what it looks like'

Meghan at a California restaurant with tennis star Ms Williams

Ms Williams has been vocal in her praise for Meghan, including comments following the Duke and Duchess's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey