It’s been five years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sensationally stepped down as working royals to pursue the American Dream from their new home in Montecito, California.
While they have carved out a new life for themselves Stateside, reports claiming that Meghan had ‘bullied’ staff when she was part of the royal household have continued to overshadow the couple.
And following the news that an increasing number of the Sussexes’ staff had quit last year, a damning new profile on the couple by US magazine Vanity Fair has cast a new light on Meghan’s alleged behaviour both behind palace walls and behind-the-scenes of the well-oiled and powerful Sussex machine that she and Prince Harry have created in America.
Throughout the scathing article, one member of Meghan’s team describes working for ‘mean girl’ Meghan as ‘really, really awful’.
And now a source reveals to Closer how Kate Middleton – who Meghan has previously accused of ‘bullying’ her during her time with the royals – is feeling ‘vindicated’ along with other members of the family.
The source says, ‘Of course, everyone in the Palace has been talking about Meghan and Harry after they received such a damaging profile in Vanity Fair – which is shocking all round.
‘Kate has had the toughest year of her life, which has put everything into perspective. The truth is she’s done with the drama with Harry and Meghan and is determined to go about her life without being involved.
‘But does she feel vindicated? Absolutely!’
Last October it was revealed that a 13th member of staff hired by Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, had quit – prompting speculation that the Sussexes were famously ‘difficult’ to work with.
However, with former staff members claiming they had been forced to sign an ‘NDA’ (Non-Disclosure Agreement), which bans them from talking about the couple, the reasons for these sometimes sudden departures had been kept vague.
But in the new report, a former staff member – who is believed to have worked on Meghan’s Spotify podcast, Archetypes – has described working as part of Meghan’s inner circle as ‘very painful’. ‘[It was] really, really, really awful. Very painful. Because she’s constantly playing checkers – I’m not even going to say chess – but she’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board,’ they said.
‘And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment… It’s talking behind your back. It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, Mean Girls teenager.’
The latest bombshell allegations are at odds with the accusation that Meghan made against Kate, 43, during the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey – during which Meghan alleged Kate had made her cry over a disagreement over the fit of Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, four days before her 2018 wedding to Harry.
Later, supported by Harry in his explosive memoir, he claimed that he had found Meghan ‘sobbing on the floor’.
However, previous reports had claimed how Kate had been left in tears over Meghan’s behaviour, with palace insiders claiming that she had already received a litany of complaints from staff over her unreasonable demands.
The Palace were then forced to investigate the complaints, which are said to have led to two of Meghan’s assistants quitting – later announcing that they had ‘revised policies and procedures’ but were keeping the details confidential.
And our source says Kate isn’t shocked by this latest report, which also reveals how many former US staff members were forced into taking extended breaks, even undergoing long-term therapy, after working with Meghan.
The insider says, ‘Kate had tried her very best with Meghan and was blamed for making her cry. Now it seems a lot of people are coming out of the woodwork, and Kate can’t say that she is surprised by it all – none of the royal family can.
‘When it comes to Meghan, Kate really has no ill-will towards her. She wishes the best for them both, and hopes that they can find a smoother way of living life outside of the royal family, which is, after all, what they have chosen to do.’
Meanwhile, Meghan and Harry have been working hard on their shared humanitarian work, which saw them complete a three-day tour of Nigeria last year.
Last week, the couple were seen out, wearing masks, as they attempted to help and donate towards the devastating fires sweeping across California. Meghan has also sensitively postponed her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, until March.
And with Kate and Prince William set to spend more time in the US this year after applying to trademark their Royal Foundation Stateside, the source says Kate doesn’t want to hold on to any negativity towards Meghan.
They say, ‘Even though their new life in America doesn’t appear to be going the way they want it to, Kate would never take pleasure out of revelling in that. She doesn’t wish harm on anyone.
‘She must remain focused on her own life, which is her children, flying the flag for the royals – but most importantly, her own health. She is so thrilled to be in the clear and doing better, and doesn’t want any negativity affecting that.’
