Wimbledon fan embroiled in Meghan Markle selfie furore speaks out

Meghan Markle has been checkmated in her swirling Wimbledon photo furore as the man behind the phone explains what really happened.

A Wimbledon selfie-snapper accused of invading the Duchess of Sussex’s privacy told The Sun: “I had no idea she was there.”

Tennis fan Hasan Hasanov, 58, was warned off as he took a picture from the row in front of Meghan’s VIP seat, The Sun reports.

But the oil and gas safety engineer was just taking a selfie on his iPhone with the players in the background and was baffled to be asked by a minder: “Please give them privacy.”

Hasan, who queued from 5am and paid £25 for his Court One seat, said he did not know the Duchess was there and thought the bodyguard was asking him not to photograph the players with their shirts off.

He said: “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.”

New mum Meghan’s bizarre picture ban came as she watched Serena Williams with two pals last week.

It made front page news in The Sun and sparked anger over her churlish attitude towards royal fans.

The Duchess of Sussex watches Serena Williams. Photo credit: Express Syndication/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com.

Azerbaijan-born Hasan was photographed being ticked off by her bodyguard but was unaware of his brush with royalty as he had left the country for a holiday in Switzerland.

Hasan, from Wallington, South London, only found out when his daughter sent him a snap of the front page of the The Sun.

He said: “It seemed crazy to me because all I did was take a selfie to send to my wife. I was in the best seat I’d ever had in 15 years of queuing up for Wimbledon and wanted to show off because she didn’t get out of bed to join me.”

A Royal bodyguard approached Hasan Hasanov.

Grandad Hasan, who is married to Olga, 54, and has daughters Diana, 32, and Nara, 28, queued from the early hours to get his seat.

He started at number 1400 in the line but was delighted to discover he had landed a prime spot on the show court.

Hasan, a member of a tennis club in Purley, South London, said: “I couldn’t believe my luck when I got there because the only restriction was occasionally having the umpire between me and the players.”

Hasan Hasanov's selfie at Wimbledon.

He has been living in London for 20 years, was recently awarded British citizenship and describes himself as a monarchist who thinks the royal family is good for the country.

And he will not let his brush with moody Meghan, 37, put him off.

Hasan told The Sun: “I know lots of people would like to get pictures of Meghan and I know people get cross when she gets upset because she’s a public figure.

Hasan Hasanov was told to move along.

“I won’t be getting cross about this because — to be honest — I had no idea what was going on until days later. And I’ll stay a fan of the royals.”

Buckingham Palace says royals often insist on no photos so they can “properly engage with people and events”.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission