Control Panel problem

If you have Face ID enabled, the phone unlocks as soon as it sees your face, before you swipe up. So probably the phone is already unlocked when you try to open the Control Center. Have someone else try it - have them hold the phone facing them, you facing the back of the phone, and press the SIDE button to lock the phone. Then ask them to open the Control Center.

If it is the Control Center, somethings wrong. If it's the Widget screen turn off "Today View and Search" in the Allow Access When Locked portion of the Face ID & Passcode section. I sometimes get the widget screen when swiping down for the control center - I guess I'm swiping diagonally instead of down at times.

Ignore the previous edit of this.

Are you seeing the Control Center or the Widgets screen?