Buckingham Palace to investigate bullying allegations levelled against Meghan Markle by former royal staff.
The move by Buckingham Palace to investigate this latest allegations is coming after Meghan Markle released a statement through her layer expressing sadness over the allegation. The allegation as reported by The Times happened in 2018, and she has refuted the claims.
The Times newspaper reported the allegations that during her time as a working royal, Meghan drove out two personal assistants and staff were ‘humiliated’ on several occasions. Meghan’s lawyers said the claims are based on ‘misleading and harmful misinformation’ which was being used to ‘peddle a false narrative’ in advance of the Oprah Winfrey interview airing on Sunday.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Wednesday night that it would launch its own probe after it was accused of ‘orchestrating a smear campaign’ against the Sussexes.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. ‘Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. ‘The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.’
The Times reported the duchess has been subject to a complaint from Jason Knauf in 2018, who was working as the couple’s communications secretary at the time. He said he was acting to protect other staff members and alleged Meghan’s ‘unacceptable behaviour’ had forced two PAs to leave. Underlying Meghan’s actions, the paper claims, was the view of a number of sources that she wanted to be a ‘victim’ so her ‘unbearable experience’ would convince Harry they had to leave the UK – something her lawyers have denied.
A spokesman for the couple told The Times: ‘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.’