Piers Morgan labels Meghan Markle 'absurd' for demanding no photos at Wimbledon

Piers Morgan has criticised Meghan Markle after it emerged her security team reportedly tried to stop tennis fans taking pictures of her at Wimbledon.

Tennis fans were thrilled when the Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon last week to support her friend Serena Williams.

But while the television cameras were able to capture the royal cheering on her pal, according to reports, those sitting closest to the duchess were asked not to take photographs because she was there "in a private capacity."

In a column for the Telegraph , media consultant, Sally Jones, who was seated in the same row, claims to have been asked by a royal protection officer to abstain from taking pictures of the Duchess, despite not realising the royal was actually there.

The 64-year-old spectator, says she was tapped on the shoulder by royal protection officer, who said: "Would you not take photographs of the Duchess. She's here in a private capacity."

She told the Telegraph: "I told him it was bonkers and that even if I had been trying to snap the Duchess, I'd have got a blurry picture of her right ear."

"Apart from anything else, there were hundreds of people clicking away. I said to him, 'Have you thought about having a word with any of those television cameras?' He looked a little uncomfortable."

The alleged request seemed to anger breakfast host Piers and on this morning's 'GMB' he accused the royal of hypocrisy.

"A private capacity... in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. As the Duchess of Sussex," he said.

"This is so ridiculous, this obsession that her and Harry have about privacy.

"It's rankly hypocritical and they're not private people, they're the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. We get to pay for their mansion, we get to do all of this..."

【ギャラリー】Meghan at Wimbledon15

When co-host Susanna Reid said she could understand the royal's request for privacy, Piers retorted: "In the Royal Box at Wimbledon. With the world's cameras beamed on their heads.

"It's not a private place. If you want to be private don't go to the Royal Box at Wimbledon.

"Honestly, it's a complete joke. You've got to work out what you want to be - do you want to be public or private?

"If you go to Wimbledon in your free tickets in the Royal Box, the best seats in the house for nothing, and you take your two bezzies... you're public people.

"If you want to be private, go back to America and live privately."

In contrast, the Duchess of Sussex, was praised by fans for opting to sit in a 'normal' seat among the crowds on Court 14, instead of the royal box, when she made an appearance at the tournament earlier in the week.

A palace source told the Telegraph: "It's not unusual for people accompanying Members of the Royal Family at private, or public, events to ask members of the public not to take photographs. It is to enable Members of the Royal Family to engage with people and events."

But the witness described the move as "another example of silly control freakery," which is something the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have found themselves accused of recently.

Just last week the royal couple courted controversy by announcing they would keep details about baby Archie's godparents private.

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Fans were also upset that the christening remained private and only a couple of pictures were released to the media afterwards.

The duchess of Sussex' Wimbledon appearance also caused a buzz as the royal arrived at the club wearing blue jeans, which left people wondering if she had breached the dress code.

But apparently, there is no official dress code for Wimbledon. Unlike Ascot, the rules for spectators are relaxed, unless you're in the Royal Box.

Wimbledon's website states that the protocol for the Royal Box is "dress is smart, suits/jacket and tie, etc. Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them."

- This article first appeared on Yahoo