Wimbledon selfie-taker who was told off for taking a photo by Meghan's protection officers says he had NO IDEA she was there - and he was actually trying to snap Federer
- Hasan Hasanov, 58, was told off by Meghan's bodyguard for taking a selfie
- Mr Hasanov, of south London, says he was trying to take one of Roger Federer
- Grandfather and keen tennis fan claims he didn't realise Meghan was there
The tennis fan who was told off for 'taking a selfie with Meghan' at Wimbledon claims he didn't even know she was there - and wanted one with Roger Federer instead.
Hasan Hasanov, 58, was pictured being spoken to by a royal bodyguard after he took the picture with his iPhone on Court One last Thursday.
The Duchess's security team warned him not to take photos of her as she was there in a 'private capacity'.
Pictures from the day show him facing Meghan with his mobile phone pointing towards her.
But the grandfather, of Wallington, south London, insists he was trying to get a picture of himself with Roger Federer in the background and hadn't even realised Meghan was in front of him.
Hasan Hasanov, 58, was pictured being spoken to by a royal bodyguard after he took the picture with his iPhone on Court One last Thursday
The Duchess's security team (bodyguard centre) warned him (right) not to take photos of Meghan (left) as she was there in a 'private capacity'
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He told The Sun: 'I honestly couldn't really care less about taking a picture of Meghan, Harry or any of the royals — and, if I did, I'd ask first. I was much more interested in getting a video of Roger Federer in action.'
Pictured: Long-standing Wimbledon fan Hasan Hasanov, 58, of south London
The safety engineer, who has been going to Wimbledon for 15 of the 20 years he has lived in London, queued outside from 5am to get his hands on a £25 ticket.
He went from 1,400 in the line to bagging himself a Court One seat on the day Serena Williams and Andy Murray were both playing.
The Duchess, 37, caused outraged when she arrived unannounced to watch her friend Serena play on July 4.
Members of the crowd were banned from taking pictures of her as her team insisted it was a 'private outing', despite taxpayers forking out £2.4million for renovations to her new home.
All England Club sources say she was a 'nightmare' to accommodate, with her casual attire and 'self-regarding paranoia'.
An official tasked with organising the event told The Times: 'It was a nightmare, she was a nightmare.'
Another club insider told the newspaper she was not supposed to be wearing jeans in the exclusive members' only area she was sat in.
Palace officials claimed the Duchess of Sussex (second right), 37, attended the All England Club in a 'private capacity' last Thursday to watch her friend Serena (front) play
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the controversy - but a royal source told MailOnline: 'It's not uncommon for personal protection officers accompanying any members of the Royal Family to ask people not to take pictures so they can engage with people and events rather than camera phones'.
After his run-in with the royal, Azerbaijan-born Mr Hasanov went straight on holiday and was unaware of the furore around his exchange with the Duchess.
On his return he couldn't believe it and said: 'I had no idea she was there!'
He claims he took the selfie to send to his wife and she had not got up early enough to queue with him.
The Duchess is pictured with her two friends in the stands in Court One
The father-of-three, who is a member of a tennis club in Purley, south London, recently acquired British citizenship and considers himself a royalist.
Despite his clash with Meghan and her team he says he will still support the royal family.
Former tennis star Sally Jones, 64, was also warned about not taking photos with the Duchess in.
She was left furious, saying afterwards: 'Harry and Meghan see themselves more as A-list celebrities rather than royals carrying out their duties. It's control-freakery'.
'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'.
