Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have penned a 25-page report to refute claims she bullied members of the royal household.
The Sussexes have vigorously hit back at allegations that Meghan’s behavior had forced two assistants out of their jobs, and staff accused the Duchess of yelling at them and contacting them on their nights off.
The allegations, initially reported to HR by the joint press secretary of Prince Harry and Prince Williams, sparked a review by Buckingham Palace.
Now Harry has used his new memoir, Spare, to rail against the claims, calling them “lies” and saying he and Meghan have produced a report “full of evidence” to prove it.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at Windsor Castle on the long walk following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Harry has hit back at claims his wife bullied members of the royal household
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive with Prince William for a service to mark the RAF’s centenary at Westminster Abbey. Prince Harry says he and his wife have produced a 25-page report refuting the bullying allegations
The Palace’s final report was kept secret to protect attendees, but Harry indicates it was part of a media agenda against him and his wife.
The Telegraph reports that in one section of the book he writes: “It was so outrageous that even though Meg and I demonstrated her lie with a 25-page report to Human Resources full of evidence, it would be very difficult for me to deny her.” ignore it.’
The claims were made in 2018 when press secretary Jason Knauf emailed his boss Simon Case claiming Meghan’s treatment of an employee was “completely unacceptable”.
The Times told Case, who was Prince Williams’ private secretary and is now Cabinet Secretary: “I am very concerned that the Duchess has been able to harass two PAs from the household over the past year. The treatment of X* was totally unacceptable.’
He added: “The Duchess seems keen on always having someone in her sights. She bullies Y and tries to undermine her confidence. We have received reports upon reports from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.’
Mr Knauf worked for the royal family for seven years, including as press secretary to the princes, special adviser to William and Kate and executive director of the Royal Foundation.
He was made a lieutenant in the Royal Victorian Order in the New Years’ Honours, which probably didn’t sit well with the Sussexes.
In his book, which was released in Spain nearly a week ahead of the official release date, Harry claims his wife was unfairly portrayed as a “tyrant”.
Allegations that Meghan Markle bullied employees come from Jason Knauf, former press secretary to Prince Harry and Prince William (pictured).
The Duke of Sussex’s memoir, entitled Spare, will be released in the UK on January 10
The Duke claimed the princes’ personal offices made it easy for the press to attack them, and when he tried to explain his point to William the conversation turned into an argument about his interview with Oprah.
In their Netflix documentary released in December, the Sussexes said claims that Meghan sometimes made royal staff cry were part of a “calculated smear campaign” in response to the interview.
James Holt, executive director of Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation, told Netflix, “The journalist who wrote it even admitted that the timing of the bullying storyline was explicitly because of the Oprah interview.”
Valentine Low, who published the story for the Times, said victims of the alleged bullying “wanted to get their story out before the Oprah interview” or “their complaints would be lost in the noise.”
In an interview to publicize his memoir, CBS’ Harry Anderson Cooper said he believes people with the palace “betrayed” him and his wife by spreading “stories” about them in the press.
In a teaser for the interview, which will air tonight in the United States, the Duke of Sussex defended herself against public criticism of her decision to publicly blast the royal family.
He insisted he “tried to do this privately” but that “every time I’ve tried to do it privately there have been briefings and leaks and stories planted against me and my wife.”
In the memoir, Harry claims that while he was discussing the Oprah interview, his brother “jumped” on him and grabbed his shirt before invoking the memory of their mother, Diana.
The Duke said William became flushed during a walk following the funeral of her grandfather, Prince Philip, in April 2021.
Harry claims he tried to address bullying allegations against Meghan but his father and brother “didn’t listen”.
The argument erupted as Harry, William and Charles reportedly discussed the interview he and Meghan Markle gave to Oprah the month before. The Sussexes are pictured during the interview
In an extraordinary excerpt from his forthcoming autobiography, Spare, Harry recalls being physically attacked by his sibling, now the Prince of Wales, which he claims left him visible injuries
The California-based king went on to claim that William was “really steaming” and grabbed him as he tried to walk away.
“I waved my hand in disgust but he fell and grabbed my shirt. “Listen to me, Harold,” Harry wrote in his book, according to The Sun.
“I pulled away, refusing to meet his gaze. He forced me to look into his eyes. ‘Listen, Harold, listen! I love you Harold! I want you to be happy.”
Harry claims he replied, “I love you too… but your stubbornness is extraordinary!”
The duke reportedly tried to pull away, but William reportedly “grabbed again” and “twisted” him so the couple could maintain eye contact.
William then invoked the brother’s so-called “secret code” and swore on the life of Princess Diana that his intentions were genuine, Harry wrote.
He writes that William said, “Harold, you have to listen to me! I just want you to be happy, Harold. I swear, I swear on Mama’s life.”
Harry continued, “He quit. I stopped. Dad stopped. He had gone there.
“He used the secret code, the universal password. Ever since we were boys, these three words should only be used in times of extreme crisis.’
The Duke claimed his brother was “not ready to accept defeat just yet” and claimed to be “really sick and sick” over the tensions between the pair.
William reportedly repeated, “I swear to you now on mum’s life that all I want is for you to be happy.”
Harry claims his “voice was broken” and he “gently” told William, “I really don’t think you do.”
The older brother then reportedly hugged Harry and said, “I love you.”
Web has reached out to representatives from William and Harry for comment.