The royal family has denied that recent media stories about Meghan Markle are part of an “orchestrated” campaign against the Duchess of Sussex ahead of a high-profile interview alongside Prince Harry with Oprah Winfrey this weekend.
Meanwhile, it is claimed that Meghan Markle believes that she is being attacked because of the color of her skin.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes issued a statement alleging that recent news stories are part of a planned campaign to “smear” Meghan Markle’s character.
Buckingham Palace responded to deny the claims, saying the royal family is focused on Prince Philip‘s health situation as he remains in the hospital.
A recent UK newspaper story alleges that Meghan Markle bullied staff members at the palace during her time as a senior working royal.
The newspaper claims that Jason Knauf — who was communications secretary for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 — filed a complaint detailing bullying behavior that palace staff had allegedly witnessed.
In response, Meghan Markle’s spokesperson said that Queen Elizabeth II and the palace create a “false narrative based on misleading and harmful information.”
The statement referenced the upcoming interview — Oprah with Meghan and Harry — which will air in the US on Sunday, March 7, before being shown in the UK the following day from 9-11 p.m.
Lawyers for the Sussexes have said that Meghan Markle is “saddened” by the “attack on her character,” mainly as she has been a target of “bullying herself.”
The complaint was filed by Jason Knauf more than a year before Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped down from their roles as working members of the royal family in early 2020.
In the report, Knauf says he wanted to make the palace aware of the incidents to protect staff who experienced “unbearable pressure” from Meghan Markle.
A source claims Prince Harry tried to talk Knauf out of filing the complaints, although lawyers for the Sussexes deny this.
Several close friends of Duchess Meghan Markle have decided to speak about the alleged bullying of Palace staff members, and they brought up racism.
A pal of Meghan Markle told Harper’s Bazaar: “Harry and Meghan knew that it would get ugly in the run-up [to the Oprah special], but seeing such an obvious attempt at destroying her character was distressing and upsetting.”
Another friend shared: “I hate to say it, but find me a woman of color in a senior position who has not been accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace. Sadly, it’s happening, but I’m not surprised. These claims are so far from the woman I know.”
Observers say the PR battle could get very messy.
