As Wimbledon 2025 continues to draw in crowds of sports fans, celebrities, and royalty alike, past moments from Centre Court have started resurfacing — including one particular incident involving the Duchess of Sussex that still raises eyebrows.

It was July 2019 when Meghan Markle made an appearance at the tournament to support her close friend Serena Williams. Attending in a personal capacity rather than as part of the official royal entourage, Meghan dressed casually for the day — in jeans, a black top, a light linen blazer, and a panama hat.

But what seemed like a relaxed, summer-ready outfit reportedly caused quite a stir behind the scenes.

Royal by title, but still subject to the dress code

Despite being a working royal at the time, Meghan was denied access to the exclusive Royal Box due to one fashion choice: jeans. According to Wimbledon’s long-standing etiquette, denim — of any kind or colour — is not permitted in members-only areas, including the Royal Box and enclosures.

“She wanted to come incognito,” one official said, speaking to The Times, “but there were problems.” Another source from the All England Club noted that “they couldn’t invite her into the Royal Box because she was wearing jeans,” although it didn’t matter much, since Meghan’s goal was simply to watch Serena play.

Nonetheless, the moment reportedly caused some behind-the-scenes tension. One event coordinator even called it “a bit of a nightmare,” as accommodating a senior royal while staying within club rules can be a diplomatic balancing act.

At the time, Meghan was seated elsewhere — not in the Royal Box — and appeared unfazed by the restriction. She reportedly stayed to watch Andy Murray’s match following Serena’s, as both games were on the same court.

Wimbledon’s official guidelines are clear about dress expectations for members and guests in formal enclosures. The list of restricted items includes T-shirts, leggings, hoodies, shorts, sports shoes, oversized hats and bags, and yes — jeans of any kind, even white.

While the duchess’s fashion sense is often praised for blending tradition with modernity, in this case, tradition won out.

And she’s not the only one. Meghan’s sister-in-law Kate Middleton’s younger sister, Pippa, also reportedly faced similar dress-related restrictions in the past — a reminder that even those close to the royal circle aren’t exempt from the rules of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament.