As Wimbledon kicks off this year, some royal watchers are revisiting a past moment that stirred headlines — Meghan Markle’s controversial appearance at the tournament back in 2019.

At the time, the Duchess of Sussex was attending in a private capacity to support her close friend Serena Williams. But what was meant to be a quiet visit quickly attracted attention — and criticism — from members of the public, press, and even fellow celebrities.

Her security team reportedly asked nearby spectators not to take photographs of her, citing a desire to keep the visit personal. That request, however, didn’t go down well with everyone. British journalist and former tennis player Sally Jones recalled being told not to snap a photo — even though she hadn’t realised Meghan was nearby and had only been trying to photograph Serena on the court.

In an interview with MailOnline that year, Jones criticised the situation as “control-freakery,” adding that Meghan “seemed more concerned about who was watching her than enjoying the tennis.”

Some accused the couple of wanting celebrity-style privacy while still occupying royal roles

The incident prompted widespread discussion about the line between privacy and public life — especially for royals. Meghan and Prince Harry were accused by critics of wanting the privileges of royal status without the public scrutiny that comes with it.

Piers Morgan called the request for privacy “hypocritical” on Good Morning Britain, questioning whether the Sussexes truly wanted to be public figures. “If you want privacy, don’t attend high-profile events like Wimbledon,” he argued.