BUCKINGHAM Palace is reportedly furious at claims from “disingenuous” Meghan Markle and Prince Harry they unleashed a “calculated smear campaign” against them.
The Times today reported claims the Duchess of Sussex is facing allegations of bullying staff made by one of her closest advisers during her time at Kensington Palace.
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The 39-year-old is even said to have snapped “it’s not my job to coddle people” after aides were left in tears and humiliated by her “difficult demands”.
But a spokesperson for the Sussexes denied the claims – instead saying Royal aides had launched a “calculated smear campaign” against Meghan ahead of her interview with Oprah Winfrey.
They also claimed The Times was “being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative.”
Since the reports surfaced, Buckingham Palace has refused to comment today – but senior royal sources said that complaints being made by ex-staff members were not in any way being orchestrated by the palace or members of the Royal Family.
A senior royal source said: “That is patently not the case. It is untrue and disingenuous to say so.
“Quite frankly there are far more important things going in the world rather than the circus going on round a television interview.”
It comes as:
- Meghan claimed Royal aides had launched a “calculated smear campaign” against her ahead of her interview with Oprah Winfrey
- The Duchess is claimed to have left an employee shaking with fear following an alleged row
- Meghan ‘wore earrings gifted by Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman just three weeks after the death of Jamal Khashoggi’
- The explosive interview with Oprah had reportedly been in the works for two years
- Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview could make “many millions” for TV bosses
In recent weeks, Prince Philip, 99, was taken to hospital after feeling unwell while Princess Eugenie welcomed her baby boy.
And sensational claims reported last night alleged to The Times that Meghan drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third.
The report further claimed Meghan “humiliated” at least one ex-staffer while another said the Duchess’ behaviour felt “more like emotional cruelty and manipulation…”
But a Sussex spokesperson said: “Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.
“It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining The Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and The Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years.”
Meghan and Harry sat down with Oprah for a tell-all interview recently, expected to reveal some “pretty shocking things” when the chat is aired.
The programme – Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A Primetime Special – will be aired on CBS in the US at 8pm EST – meaning it will be 1am in the UK at the time.
The interview is largely seen as an opportunity for the couple to air their side of the story after sensationally quitting the Royal Family last year.
In previews for the interview, Oprah is heard telling the couple that they faced struggles that were “almost unsurvivable” and they must have faced a “breaking point”.
But in a piece released in the Times, sources claimed there was a tense atmosphere at the Palace during Meghan’s time there – with staff occasionally reduced to tears.
One royal aide, anticipating a row with the duchess, is alleged to have told a colleague: “I can’t stop shaking.”
Jason Knauf, Harry and Meghan’s former communications assistant, reportedly submitted a complaint in 2018 to protect palace aides who were allegedly coming under pressure from the American former actress.
Knauf reportedly emailed Prince William’s private secretary Simon Case after raising bullying concerns with Samantha Carruthers, the Palace’s head of HR.
A source claimed the issue of treatment of staff accelerated the splitting of Harry and Meghan’s household from William and Kate’s.
“What was a long-term plan became an immediate plan”, the source added.
After Harry was told about the complaint, a source insisted he had a meeting with Knauf in which he begged him not to pursue it, it is claimed.
Lawyers for Meg and Harry deny that any meeting took place or that the duke would have interfered with any staff matter.
