Wimbledon spectator from Warwickshire village told to not take pictures of Meghan Markle

A tennis fan from Ashow caused a national stir when she was told that she could not take photos of Meghan Markle at Wimbledon - despite the Duchess being a public place.
The Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon. Courtesy of Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon. Courtesy of Getty Images
The Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon. Courtesy of Getty Images

Journalist Sally Jones said she was actually taking photos of the American tennis star Serena Williams in Court One when a security officer tapped her on the shoulder to tell her not to take photos of ther Duchess of Sussex.

Sally, who describes herself as a deeply patriotic royalist, wrote a piece for the Daily Telegraph, saying how shocked she was with the ‘diva-ish’ demands - and her comments caused a national debate, with many paper picking up her story.

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She told the Telegraph: “No wonder there is a growing tide of resentment against the Sussexes for their secretive, high maintenance attitude and diva-ish demands for privacy when it suits them - despite the eye-wateringly expensive, taxpayer-funded refit of Frogmore Cottage.

“It seems particularly irrational when they appear in a highly public arena amid a substantial press pack and thousands of spectators, for their security team to start trying to control the photography habits of lone onlookers sitting near the Duchess, most only vaguely aware of her presence.”

She also pointed out that when the Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the same section of the court with her entourage two days ealier, there had been no such demands.

Sally added: “This puzzlingly random control freakery is in direct contravention of royal practice. Most of the Queen’s extended family appearing in public, whether in a public or private capacity, are generally neither surprised nor affronted to be surveyed or photographed by a predominantly sympathetic public, delighted at a chance encounter with even lesser royal lights.

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“As a journalist, I have covered scores of ‘royal rotas’ over the years, from the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and Prince Edward’s first appearance as a Cambridge undergraduate on an archaeological dig at the Roman city of Wroxeter to his own wedding at Windsor Castle.

The Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon. Courtesy of Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon. Courtesy of Getty Images
The Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon. Courtesy of Getty Images

“I have often witnessed the sheer joy created among ordinary citizens by proximity to royalty.

“Personally I am a deeply patriotic royalist, attending golden jubilees, street parties and waving my Union flag with unabashed delight. Fan though I am, however, even my loyalty is wearing thin at the self-regarding paranoia which appears to be afflicting Team Sussex.”

Sally finished her column by saying that many people are dismissing criticism of of the Duchess by claiming it is racism - something she emphatically denies, adding: “It is time Harry and Meghan’s advisers held a long-overdue, honest conversation with them on humility, duty and the deep divide between royalty and celebrity before they forfeit all the goodwill built up throughout their fairytale wedding – and the love and respect of archetypal Middle England monarchists like me.”

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