A spokesperson for Meghan Markle has said she is “saddened” by claims she bullied staff during her time at Kensington Palace. Markle allegedly drove 2 assistants out of the palace and undermined the confidence of another staff member. Meghan and Harry’s former communications secretary supposedly submitted the complaint about Markle. A spokesperson for Markle said that the allegations are “a calculated smear campaign" based on misinformation. Markle is “deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma”. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good, Spokesperson for Meghan Markle.
LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace said Wednesday it was launching an investigation after a newspaper reported that a former aide had made a bullying allegation against the Duchess of Sussex.
The Times of London reported allegations that the duchess drove out two personal assistants and left staff feeling "humiliated." It said an official complaint was made by Jason Knauf, then the communications secretary to Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry. He now works for Harry's elder brother, Prince William.
The palace said it was "clearly very concerned" about the allegations.
It said in a statement that the palace human resources team "will look into the circumstances outlined in the article" and would seek to speak to current and former staff.
"The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace," it said.
FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020 file photo, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex smiles during her visit with Prince Harry to Canada House, in London. Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, March 3, 2021 it was launching an investigation after a newspaper reported that a former aide had made a bullying allegation against the Duchess of Sussex. The Times of London reported allegations that the duchess drove out two personal assistants and left staff feeling “humiliated.” (Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool Photo via AP, file)
American actress Meghan Markle, a former star of the TV legal drama "Suits," married Harry, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born the following year.
In early 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, California, and are expecting a second child.
The bullying allegations were reported four days before the scheduled broadcast of an Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan, which is anticipated to draw a huge audience. It also comes less than two weeks after the palace announced that the couple's split from official duties would be final.
A spokesman for the duchess said she was "saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma."
Photos: Meghan Markle through the years
Meghan Markle arrives at The Weinstein Company 2012 Golden Globes after-party, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at the Beverly Hills Hilton, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Katy Winn)
Meghan Markle arrives at USA Network and The Moth's "A More Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power" Characters Unite storytelling event in West Hollywood, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. The event features storytellers sharing the personal experiences with discrimination and bigotry. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Cara Santana, left, and Meghan Markle attend the Herve Leger collection on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
Actress Meghan Markle participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series to discuss her role on the television show, "Suits", at AOL Studios on Thursday, March 17, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Actress Meghan Markle participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series to discuss her role on the television show, "Suits", at AOL Studios on Thursday, March 17, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
In this May 20, 2016. file photo, actress Meghan Markle poses at P.S. Arts' "the pARTy!" in Los Angeles. Markle told Vanity Fair for an interview published online on Sept. 5, 2017, that she and Prince Harry are “two people who are really happy and in love.” (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle pose for photographers during a photocall in the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, Monday Nov. 27, 2017. Britain's royal palace says Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are engaged and will marry in the spring of 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle, on their first official public engagement, take part in a walkabout en route to visiting the Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair at the Contemporary Centre in Nottingham, England, Friday Dec. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle arrive at Nottingham Academy in Nottingham, England , Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Meghan Markle meets fans as she arrives with Britain's Prince Harry for a visit to Cardiff Castle in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. During their tour, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will hear performances from musicians and poets, meet sportsmen and women, and see how organisations are working to promote Welsh language and cultural identity. (Arthur Edwards/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch a dance performance by Jukebox Collective Cardiff Castle in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. During their tour, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will hear performances from musicians and poets, meet sportsmen and women, and see how organisations are working to promote Welsh language and cultural identity. (Ben Birchall/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry, left and Meghan Markle attend a women's empowerment reception at the Royal Aeronautical Society, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in London, Thursday April 19, 2018. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)
In this April 25, 2018 file photo, Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration on ANZAC Day at Westminster Abbey in London. (Eddie Mulholland/Pool via AP, File)
Meghan Markle and her bridal party arrive for the the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Ben Birchhall/pool photo via AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their wedding service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Dominic Lipinksi/pool photo via AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after their wedding ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Ben Birchhall/pool photo via AP)
In this Tuesday, June 26, 2018 file photo Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex pose for a group photo at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. (John Stillwell/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, centre, accompanied by Britain's Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and her mother Doria Ragland walk to attend a reception at Kensington Palace, in London, Thursday Sept. 20, 2018. Markle was joined by her mother for the launch of a cookbook aimed at raising money for victims of the Grenfell fire. Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, hosted the reception beside her mother, Doria Ragland, to support the cookbook called “Together.” (Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP)
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and Britain's Prince Harry arrive to watch a dance troupe perform at the Hive, Wirral Youth Zone, as part of a visit to Birkenhead, England, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. (Danny Lawson/Pool Photo via AP)
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, right, arrives for a visit to the Association of Commonwealth Universities, at the University of London, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, her first official visit with the ACU in her new role as Patron of the international organisation which is dedicated to building a better world through higher education. (Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP)
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leaves the Surrey Hotel ahead of her baby shower at the Mark Hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are greeted by Orla Reilly aged 12 and Elsa Reilly aged 8, the daughters of the British ambassador to Morocco, as they arrive for a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco at the British Residence in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday Feb. 24, 2019. The royal couple are on a three day visit in Morocco. (Yui Mok/Pool via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry, centre left and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the residence of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, on the third day of their tour of Morocco, in Rabat, Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a photocall with their newborn son, in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, south England, Wednesday May 8, 2019. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool via AP)
In this Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 file photo, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex launches the Smart Works capsule collection at John Lewis in Oxford Street. The Duchess of Sussex has asked a British court to prevent a newspaper from publishing the names of five friends who defended her while speaking to an American magazine under the shield of anonymity. The former Meghan Markle made the request in a witness statement for her lawsuit against the Daily Mail and its parent company over excerpts from a “private and confidential″ letter she wrote to her father that the newspaper published last year. (Mark Large/Pool via AP, File)
