Meghan Markle 'determined' to make NYC trip for US Open 'very low-key': She 'has learned her lesson'

If Meghan Markle's trip to New York to watch Serena Williams at the US Open felt like it had less fanfare than usual, there was a reason for that.

Late last week, it was revealed that the Duchess of Sussex would take a last-minute trip from London to New York City to support her longtime friend in the final of the year's last grand slam tournament. On Saturday, she was seated in Serena's box for the big match, next to her mother, Oracene, and in front of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

While she was shown on the big-screen countless times throughout the match, which Serena lost, Meghan did everything in her power not to draw attention to herself, and sources say that was a conscious decision on her part.

After being panned in the press for her reported $500,000 baby shower in New York in February, which some claim Serena paid for herself, Meghan wanted this trip to the Big Apple to be much more low-key in an effort to avoid any controversy, insiders tell Page Six.

In addition to taking a commercial British Airways flight in and out of the city, as opposed to the private jets she and husband Prince Harry favored this past summer, Meghan also opted for a non-flashy affordable ensemble for her outing: A $118 denim shirtdress and a $99 sweater blazer, both from J.Crew. Additionally, she stayed at a "private residence" instead of The Mark Hotel, which is a known paparazzi magnet on the Upper East Side (many celebrities get ready there ahead of the Met Gala every year).

"After all the big fanfare of her trip for her two-day baby shower, where paparazzi followed her every move and staked out The Mark Hotel to catch Meghan, her famous friends and the array of gifts arriving, it seems Meghan has learned her lesson," a source explained. "She was in New York to support Serena, and catch up with a few other old friends, but was determined to keep everything very low-key and as under-the-radar as possible."

The 2019 US Open wasn't the first time that Meghan has publicly supported Serena: She watched Serena in the 2019 and 2018 Wimbledon finals alongside sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, too.

Ahead of the match on Saturday afternoon, Meghan was spotted at West Village yoga studio Moda Yoga with another one of her friends, designer Misha Nonoo. While there were at least 40 other people in the class, to which Meghan was accompanied by two royal protection officers, nobody bothered her during the session.

"Some in the class did smile and shoot her some admiring glances, but otherwise they didn’t bother her at all," an eye-witness told Page Six. "But it is clear she is a well-practiced yogi and she is in amazing shape for a new mom."

Meghan had been known to frequent Moda before her days as a royal, and she also has the best teacher possible at her disposal: Her mother, Doria Ragland, who is a certified yoga instructor and took extra classes to help Meghan rebound at Frogmore Cottage's in-home yoga studio after giving birth to Archie.