A trusted royal aide has confirmed that she was interviewed regarding bullying allegations leveled against Meghan Markle. Samantha Cohen, who was a member of the royal staff for nearly 20 years, shared in a recent interview that she was one of 10 staff members questioned about the claims. Although she declined to elaborate, Cohen alluded to the staff turnover, mentioning that replacements were hard to find and staff members left even after being trained.
News of Markle’s alleged bullying first surfaced before her and Prince Harry’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Reports from The Times of London indicated that Markle occasionally reduced staff members to tears while residing at Kensington Palace. Two senior members of the palace staff were reportedly bullied into quitting their jobs.
The couple’s communications assistant at the time, Jason Knauf, raised concerns about the Duchess's behavior in an HR complaint to Prince William’s then-private secretary. Knauf expressed worry about the treatment of staff members and the Duchess's behavior towards them.
Following the allegations, the Palace announced an investigation into the matter, but the findings were not made public. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex vehemently denied the claims, labeling them as a calculated smear campaign based on misleading information.
In his defense of his wife, Prince Harry described her as a caring boss who looked after the well-being of staff members. He highlighted her gestures of sending gifts, hosting tea parties, and organizing social events for the staff.
Cohen, who worked closely with the late Queen as a private secretary, was asked to assist the Duke and Duchess. Despite her involvement in preparing Markle for public appearances, reports suggest a strained relationship between Cohen and the couple. Sources indicated that working with the pair was challenging and stressful for Cohen.
