In a dramatic turn of events, Buckingham Palace has launched an inquiry into allegations that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, bullied royal staff during her time at Kensington Palace. The inquiry comes just days before the highly anticipated interview of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Oprah Winfrey is scheduled to air.
The allegations, which surfaced in a recent report by The Times of London, paint a picture of a toxic work environment at Kensington Palace during Meghan’s time as a working royal. The Times cited sources claiming that Meghan’s behavior drove two personal assistants out of their jobs and undermined the confidence of a third staff member.
One particularly damning allegation, attributed to a 2018 email from former communications secretary Jason Knauf, describes Meghan as “intent on always having someone in her sights.” The email, which Knauf reportedly sent to Simon Case, the Duke of Cambridge’s private secretary, expressed concern about the treatment of staff and warned that “nothing will be done.”
The Palace, in a statement expressing concern over the allegations, said that it “does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.” The statement further noted that the Royal Household has had “procedures in place for a number of years” to address such complaints.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes, however, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them a “calculated smear campaign” orchestrated to undermine the couple ahead of their interview with Oprah. The spokesperson emphasized that Meghan is “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself.”
The timing of these allegations, so close to the Oprah interview, has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about a potential attempt to discredit Meghan and Harry. In a preview clip of the interview, Meghan can be seen alluding to the challenges she faced during her time as a royal, stating that she doesn’t know “how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent.”
The Palace inquiry will involve interviewing current and former staff members who worked at Kensington Palace during the period in question. However, it is unclear whether Meghan and Harry will be asked to participate. The Palace has stated that the inquiry will be handled independently and confidentially.
The allegations and subsequent investigation threaten to cast a long shadow over the Sussexes’ efforts to build a new life in California after stepping back from their royal duties in early 2020. It remains to be seen how the Palace will address the findings of the investigation and what impact, if any, it will have on the already strained relationship between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.
