Prince Harry ‘spoke to Meghan Markle about how she treated staff’ royal sources claim as palace launches bullying probe
PRINCE Harry spoke to Meghan Markle about how she treated staff, royal sources have reportedly claimed.
The details come as Buckingham Palace launches an investigation into bullying claims made against the Duchess of Sussex.
Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest news...
The Daily Mail reports Harry “tried to keep the peace” and on one occasion spoke to his wife about her treatment of staff.
The paper’s royal correspondent Rebecca English, writes: “At first, my sources tell me, Harry tried to keep the peace, gently placating his wife and quietly apologising to staff.”
She adds: “On one occasion described to me by several sources, he even gently admonished Meghan about the way she behaved with palace staff – many of whom work long hours for relatively little money out of pride for the institution – after a particularly explosive encounter.
“The details are subject to conjecture (and have become something of a palace legend) but resulted in Harry speaking to one of his close protection officers, who confirmed his fiancee’s behaviour.”
It comes as…
- Queen orders investigation into Meghan Markle bullying claims as Palace are ‘very concerned & won’t tolerate harassment’
- Meghan Markle’s pal accuses palace of racism after bullying claims & says Duchess ‘knew it would get ugly’ before Oprah
- Duchess of Sussex ‘had furious rows with Palace aides over freebie designer clothes’ at time of staff bullying accusations
- Meg’s friend vows ‘nothing will stop them from sharing their truth’ after Queen orders bullying investigation
- Duchess ‘ignored advice from aides not to wear earrings gifted by Saudi Crown Prince’
It comes after sources alleged to The Times this week that Meghan drove two personal assistants out of the household and undermined the confidence of a third.
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”.
And the Times’ report further claimed Meghan “humiliated” at least one ex-staffer while another said the Duchess’ behaviour felt “more like emotional cruelty and manipulation…”
Meghan’s team has denied the allegations, while the Duchess suggested the Royal Firm was actively “perpetuating falsehoods” in a teaser released ahead of her and Harry’s bombshell interview with Oprah.
In a preview of Meghan’s upcoming interview with Oprah, the talk show host asked how she felt about “the Palace hearing you speak your truth.”
Meghan replied: “I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.”
‘HYPOCRISY’
But one source told The Mail: “Those concerned are fed up with the sheer hypocrisy of it all.
“The suggestion that they [the Sussexes] were being bullied and forced out when others were experiencing that very treatment at their hands!”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s former communications secretary – Jason Knauf – reportedly submitted bullying allegations to the Palace’s HR department in October 2018.
Claims say Knauf emailed Prince William’s private secretary Simon Case after raising bullying concerns with Samantha Carruthers, the head of HR.
Case, who is now Cabinet Secretary, then forwarded it to Carruthers, who was based at Clarence House, The Times states.
However, the newspaper claims other sources said there was no investigation or attempt to protect the staff from being bullied by Meghan.
In a dramatic U-turn last night, Buckingham Palace released a statement which read: “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.”
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Meghan and Harry are expected to reveal all in a bombshell interview with Oprah this weekend – Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A Primetime Special – set to air 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”.