Meghan Markle ‘Saddened’ By Accusation Of Bullying Royal Staff ‘To The Point Of Tears’ Ahead Of Oprah TV Interview

Topline

The Duchess of Sussex has said she is “saddened” by claims she bullied Palace staff to the point of “driving out” two personal assistants and undermining the confidence of another during her time as a working royal, The Times reported Tuesday ahead of a highly anticipated television interview with Oprah Winfrey Sunday and amid deepening tensions between the newly-independent Sussexes and parts of the British press.

Key Facts

The Sussexes’ communications secretary, Jason Knauf, per The Times, submitted a formal complaint about the Duchess’s behavior in 2018, apparently in a bid to have Buckingham Palace intervene and protect his staff.

Royal aides, who reportedly approached The Times to give a more complete version of the Duchess’ time as a working Royal ahead of a TV interview with Winfrey, said the Duchess “humiliated” them, reduced staff to tears, and engaged in what felt like “emotional cruelty and manipulation.”

The Duchess’ spokesman refutes the allegations, and said she is “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma”.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good,” the spokesman added.

Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace have not responded to the comments.

Chief Critic

The Times story is facing backlash on social media in Britain, with many pointing out that while Markle has received widespread press coverage and criticism over these claims, another member of the Royal Family, Prince Andrew, received comparatively little attention for his ties to disgraced pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Tangent

A British judge ruled in favor of the Duchess of Sussex against a British publisher in February for printing parts of a private letter written to her estranged father. The couple has repeatedly  stated this kind of media coverage played a role in their decision to step away from the Royal Family and in a recent interview with James Cordon the Duke blamed the “toxic” British press for “destroying” his mental health. The Duchess was granted an interim £450,000 (around $630,000) payment towards her legal costs, which are reportedly around three times that amount, on Tuesday. The Duchess’ lawyers are seeking a front page statement in the paper about her legal victory.   

Key Background

The relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the British press has always been fraught. Prince Harry has repeatedly likened his wife’s experiences to that of his late mother, Princess Diana, who also had a difficult relationship with the press and faced intense public scrutiny. In 2020, the couple announced they would be stepping away as working members of the Royal Family and seek financial independence, an arrangement that was made permanent in February after a year-long evaluation period. Both will be stripped of honorary military appointments and Royal patronages, which will be returned to the Queen for redistribution among the Royal Family, and the couple have stopped using Royal HRH titles. The couple now reside in the U.S. and are expecting a second child and have managed to secure lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify.

What To Watch For

Both Harry and Meghan will appear in an interview with Oprah Winfrey as a prime time special on CBS on March 7. It is in what is being pitched as a “wide-ranging interview” about their experience after leaving their roles as working Royals. It is unclear whether or not the interview will be delayed in the U.K., with the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, currently in hospital. 

Further Reading

Royal aides reveal bullying claim before Meghan’s Oprah interview (The Times)

Meghan bullying claims: ‘Nothing was ever good enough . . . she left staff shaking with fear’ (The Times)

Prince Harry Talks About ‘Toxic’ British Press ‘Destroying’ His Mental Health During James Corden ‘Late Late Show’ Chat (Forbes)

Meghan granted £450k interim payment in Mail on Sunday privacy case (Guardian)

Harry And Meghan Will Not Return As Working Members Of Britain’s Royal Family (Forbes)

Speak Your Mind

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Get in Touch

350FansLike
100FollowersFollow
281FollowersFollow
150FollowersFollow

Recommend for You

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Subscribe and receive our weekly newsletter packed with awesome articles that really matters to you!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

You might also like

The Top Five Ugliest Cars Today And Why Ride-Looks...

Will we care about "ugliness" in cars once self-driving...

Remote Work Has Its Perks, Until You Want a...

In tech industry mythology, the San Francisco Bay Area is the unmatched crucible of...

Home Margarita Making Costs Vary From State To State

Making a margarita at home will cost you more...

How To Increase Traffic To Your Website

By Richard Harroch and Anne Burns It’s no secret that every business needs to have...