The Duchess of Sussex was accused of “emotional cruelty” as it was alleged that she faced a complaint of intimidation from one of her closest advisers at Kensington Palace, it was reported.
The complaint alleged that Meghan “threw two personal assistants out of the house and was undermining the trust of a third team member,” reported The Times.
A Sussex spokesman said they were the victims of a “smear campaign calculated on the basis of misleading and damaging misinformation”.
Meghan, who alongside Prince Harry will appear in an explosive “interview to tell everything” on United States TV with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday, is accused of “totally unacceptable” treatment by his former team.
(Image: CBS)
The allegations involve two senior officials who claimed to have been intimidated by the duchess.
Another former employee claimed to have been personally “humiliated” by Meghan, 39.
According to The Times, the complaint was reportedly filed in October 2018 by Jason Knauf, then the couple’s communications secretary.
Harry is alleged to have intervened personally and “implored Knauf not to proceed with this,” a source told the newspaper. A spokesman for the couple said Harry would not interfere in the team’s affairs.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
An aide claimed “more like emotional cruelty and manipulation, which I think can also be called bullying”.
Knauf reportedly wrote an email to Simon Case, then Prince William’s private secretary, after speaking with Samantha Carruthers, head of HR.
He would have said: “I am very concerned that the Duchess managed to expel two PAs from her home last year. The treatment of X * was totally unacceptable. “
Knauf allegedly added: “The Duchess seems determined to always have someone in sight. She is intimidating Y and trying to undermine her confidence. We received reports after reports from people who witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y. ”
(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock)
Oprah Winfrey’s interview will be shown on ITV on Monday, after being offered under £ 1 million for the rights.
But a public relations expert warned that the moment, with Prince Philip, 99, in the hospital, and the risk of upsetting the queen may reflect ill for them.
Mark Borkowski said: “The moment is just horrible.
“Harry and Meghan must be a sensitive, caring and empathetic brand.”
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Meghan’s spokesman Markle said: “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been bullied and is deeply committed to supporting those who have gone through pain and trauma.
“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will continue to strive to set an example of doing what is right and doing what is good.”