Meghan Markle has been branded a "control freak" after reportedly asking people to not take pictures of her during an appearance at Wimbledon in 2019. The 43-year-old, who stepped down from royal duties in 2020, attended the tournament to watch friend Serena Williams "in a private capacity".

Meghan reportedly had her bodyguards warn tennis fans not to take pictures of her, with them stating that she wanted to "engage with people rather than camera phones".

The incident occurred just weeks after she had welcomed her son Archie with Prince Harry.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Meghan was later branded "childish" and a "control freak" after former tennis champion Sally Jones revealed she was warned about taking pictures.

Sally then revealed that she had told the former working royal's "embarrassed" bodyguard she was trying to get a photograph of Serena Williams and had no idea Meghan was there.

Ms Jones told MailOnline that Meghan 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."

Serena and Meghan met in 2010 at a Super Bowl party and became close friends, with the former sporting star previously appeared on Meghan's first podcast series, Archetypes in 2022.

The was also invited to Meghan and Harry's 2018 wedding, as well as her NYC baby shower with Archie in 2019.

Speaking about their friendship, Meghan previously wrote on her now-defunct blog The Tig: "We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old-fashioned girly stuff. So began our friendship."