Meghan Markle’s cold response over concerns raised on conduct towards staff

According to royal writer Robert Lacey, Meghan Markle reportedly responded very bluntly when her senior aide stood up about her treatment of staff.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, allegedly humiliated palace staff at meetings, shouted at them and was “intimidated”, a book about the royals has revealed. But when asked about it, Meghan’s seven-word response was said to be: “It’s not my job to coddle people.”

However, Meghan’s closest friends and former co-stars disputed the claims, saying they did not match the “kind” person they know and love.

Robert Lacey, who provides historical assistance to Netflix’s The Crown, details the tensions in the royal household of 2017 in his book The Battle of the Brothers.

According to an updated version of his book, Prince William believed the Suits actor “stole his beloved brother” and was “very worried” after learning of the allegations against Meghan. The conflict between Prince Harry and William escalated to the point where the elder sibling separated his family finances from his brother, The Times reported.

Tensions came to a head when Jason Knauf, who worked in communications for both the Cambridges and the Sussexes, sent an official email in October 2018 making allegations of bullying – which the Sussexes deny. One courtier quoted in the book claimed: “Meghan is ruled by fear. So many people have said that. Nothing is ever enough for her.” “[She] humiliated employees in meetings, [shouted] at them, [interrupted] their email threads, and then demanded to know why they didn’t do anything.”

According to the magazine, the Duchess was confronted about her behavior in 2017, around the time of the Sussexes’ engagement. But when a senior aide told Meghan that her behavior was causing difficulties for staff, she said: “It’s not my job to get along with people.” The allegations against the Duchess became public in March this year, when Buckingham Palace said it was “concerned” about staff. The palace specifically investigated claims that the Duchess of Sussex harassed two PAs last year. The 2018 document said Meghan seemed to “always have someone in her sights”, and Knauf said it had received “report after report” from people who witnessed Meghan’s “unacceptable behaviour” towards some staff.

When the allegations were first reported, a spokesman for Sussex vehemently denied them. They said: “We will call it what it is – a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation.” “We are disappointed to see the credibility of the media’s defamatory portrayal of the Duchess of Sussex.” “It is no coincidence that several years of distorted claims designed to undermine the Duchess are being released to the British media just before she and the Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experiences in recent years. .”

Meghan’s friends defended her against the allegations in March, saying it was “as far as a woman I know who hasn’t been accused of being too angry, too intimidating in the workplace”. Her best friend Jessica Mulroney praised Meghan for being “kind, empathetic and loving”. Jessica, 41, wrote: “I don’t know that anyone has ever had to deal with the pressure, politics and press like this woman.” – Despite everything, I never saw her waver from kindness, empathy and love..