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Meghan Markle 'disappointed' by Wimbledon selfie-gate

Lifestyle Team
Updated

Meghan Markle was “disappointed” by the reaction to her personal protection officer asking members of the public not to take photos of her at Wimbledon.

One tennis fan Hasan Hasanov, 58, was asked to give Meghan and her friends privacy, according to The Sun, as he took a selfie in front of where they were sitting on court one during Serena Williams and Kaja Juvan’s match.

It sparked outrage from some commentators, who pointed out that it was a public sporting event, that there were press photographers taking photos of the royal and the BBC were broadcasting the match live around the world.

Speaking on Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box,’ royal commentator Omid Scobie says: “I spoke to a source after that had happened and I was told that Meghan was quite disappointed at just how it played out because, in her words, she had said to this source that she would have happily taken a photo with anyone that had asked.

“So I think that perhaps this might have been a case of a protection officer being slightly too protective, although that’s probably his job.”

Previously unissued picture dated 4/7/2019 of a man believed to be a Royal bodyguard approaching a spectator who had taken a selfie as the Duchess of Sussex watches the Serena Williams match on court one during day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Wimbledon fan was allegedly asked to give Meghan privacy during Wimbledon. Photo: Getty Images

Scobie also points out that it’s not the first time that a member of the public has been told not to take photos of the royals.

The Sun’s royal correspondent Emily Andrews adds that when the royals are in private time, personal protection officers have asked members of the public to stop taking photos or to delete them, if they’re off-duty or if it’s the children.

Privacy concerns

The outrage over the Wimbledon selfie-gate followed some public disappointment that Meghan and Harry decided to keep Archie’s christening completely private - including the names of his godparents.

A spectator takes a selfie as the Duchess of Sussex watches the Serena Williams match on court one during day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
A spectator takes a selfie as Meghan watches the match on court one at Wimbledon. Photo: Getty Images

While it’s not unusual for the service to be behind closed doors, there were no images or footage of the royals arriving to the service at Windsor Castle, but the couple released two official photos afterwards.

It’s believed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to keep Archie out of the public eye, as he grows up.

Words by Danielle Stacey

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