Duchess of Sussex 'saddened' by staff bullying claims
05 March, 2021
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused royal aides of conducting a “calculated smear campaign” after revelations that a bullying complaint was lodged against the duchess by one of her closest advisers.
Before a tell-most interview with Oprah Winfrey is broadcast, royal aides built a series of allegations to The Times about the months after the couple married in October 2018.
Jason Knauf, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s communications chief in those days, sent a contact to Simon Circumstance, who was individual secretary to Prince William, outlining “very serious” concerns about how exactly staff were getting treated inside Kensington Palace.
“I am extremely concerned that the duchess could bully two [personal assistants] out from the household previously year. The treating X was absolutely unacceptable,” he explained in the email.
“The duchess appears intent on always having someone in her sights. She actually is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her self-assurance. We've had report after report from people who've witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.”
THE DAYS used letters to safeguard the identities of personnel.
The complaint didn't progress any more, the newspaper reported.
Sources told THE DAYS that Prince Harry asked Mr Knauf not to pursue the complaint any more. The few denied any meeting occurred.
The duke and duchess said the revelations were associated with growing tensions over their interview with Winfrey, which will be broadcast in the UK on ITV next Monday.
“Let’s just call this what it really is - a calculated smear campaign predicated on misleading and harmful misinformation,” a good spokesman for the couple said.
“We will be disappointed to check out this defamatory portrayal of the Duchess of Sussex granted credibility by a mass media outlet.
“It’s not any coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations targeted at undermining the duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and the duke are because of speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years.
“The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her behalf character, particularly as someone who has been the mark of bullying herself and is deeply focused on supporting anyone who has experienced pain and trauma.
“She is determined to keep her work building compassion all over the world and can keep striving to set a good example for doing what is right and doing what's good.”
In promotional clips for the interview, Winfrey asks the duchess if she was “silent or silenced”. Ms Markle's answer isn't revealed.
In response to a comment by the duchess, Winfrey asks: “Nearly unsurvivable. Sounds like there was a breaking point?”
Prince Harry compared his wife's treatment compared to that of his mom, Diana, Princess of Wales.
“I’m just really relieved and pleased to be sitting here, speaking with you, with my wife by my aspect, because I can’t get started to imagine what it will need to have been like for her [Princess Diana], going through this process by herself, all those years ago,” he said.
Winfrey says “there is absolutely no subject that's off-restrictions” in her interview with the few.
The interview will be broadcast at an awkward time for the UK royal family, with its patriarch - the Duke of Edinburgh - still in hospital obtaining treatment for contamination and heart condition.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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