A royal aide named Samantha Cohen has confirmed in a recent interview that she was questioned about bullying allegations against Meghan Markle alongside nine other staff members. Cohen, who had been a member of the royal staff for almost 20 years, hinted at high staff turnover during her time working with the Duchess of Sussex. She mentioned that she was initially meant to stay for six months but ended up extending her tenure due to difficulty finding a replacement, only for the replacement staff member to also quit while on tour in Africa with Prince Harry and Meghan.
Allegations of bullying against Meghan Markle first emerged before her and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. Reports from The Times of London revealed that the former actress had caused at least two senior staff members at Kensington Palace to quit. A complaint made by the couple’s communications assistant, Jason Knauf, to Prince William’s private secretary detailed the unacceptable behavior exhibited by Meghan towards staff, leading to his concerns about the situation not being addressed.
Following the damaging allegations, the Palace announced an investigation into the bullying claims, although it was later stated that the findings would not be made public. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle vehemently denied the allegations and condemned what they termed as a “calculated smear campaign” perpetuated by the media. Prince Harry defended his wife in his book “Spare,” highlighting her compassionate gestures towards staff such as checking on ill employees and providing food and gifts to those in need.
Samantha Cohen, who had worked closely with the late Queen as a private secretary, was asked by Queen Elizabeth to assist the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She played a key role in helping Meghan prepare for her first official appearance as the Duchess at a Buckingham Palace garden party following their wedding in 2018. However, royal author Valentine Low described Cohen’s relationship with the couple as difficult, with reports of her being screamed at during the pair’s official tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. Sources mentioned that working with Meghan and Prince Harry was challenging for Cohen, as they pushed her to the limit and made her feel miserable.
The allegations of bullying against Meghan Markle had emerged through reports in The Times of London just days before the couple’s highly publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey. There were claims that Meghan had reduced staff members to tears during her time at Kensington Palace, leading to at least two senior palace employees quitting their positions. Jason Knauf, the couple’s communications assistant, had raised concerns about the Duchess’s behavior to Prince William’s private secretary, prompting an investigation into the matter. However, the Palace decided to keep the findings of the investigation confidential, leading to further public scrutiny about the issue.
Despite the allegations of bullying, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry denied the claims and labeled them as part of a smear campaign. In their statement, they called out the media for spreading misleading and harmful information about the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Harry defended his wife’s character in his book, highlighting her caring nature towards staff and emphasizing the positive ways in which she interacted with those working for her. The controversy surrounding the bullying allegations added to the ongoing media scrutiny of Meghan and Harry, further complicating their relationship with the British royal family.
