In a compelling revelation, former royal aide Jason Knauf has shared his perspective on the allegations that Meghan Markle bullied junior staff members during her time as a senior member of the royal family.
Knauf’s insights come through a new documentary aired by 60 Minutes Australia titled Where There’s A Will, where he breaks his silence on a controversy that has lingered since 2018.
Previously serving as the press secretary for Harry and Meghan before transitioning to work with Prince William and Kate Middleton, Knauf voiced serious concerns back in 2018 regarding the treatment of staff by the Duchess of Sussex.
His internal email outlining these issues was later leaked to the media, reigniting the debate over the allegations of bullying.
The Duchess, now 43, has consistently denied these claims, labeling them as part of a calculated effort to tarnish her reputation.
Knauf, reflecting on the tumultuous situation, stated he has no regrets and wouldn’t alter his previous actions.
He seemed to embrace the challenges of being in the public eye, saying, “It’s tough, but probably quite good.”
Hardly one to shy away from the spotlight, he acknowledged, “You can’t just pick the enjoyable parts of any job, much like the lives of the prince and princess.”
Despite the strain, Knauf insists he wouldn’t change his past decisions, which he believes were rooted in integrity.
Despite the controversies, Knauf looks back fondly on his time with Harry and Meghan, remembering their 2018 wedding as a particularly magical moment.
He expressed his heartfelt wishes for their continued happiness, remarking, “I wish them absolutely all the best with their lovely family.”
The scandal led Buckingham Palace to conduct an internal review into the allegations, but the results of this inquiry were never disclosed to the public.
Meanwhile, Meghan has dismissed the claims as a “smear campaign” fueled by misleading information.
After stepping back from his role with the Sussexes, Knauf took on significant positions within the royal family, including working closely with William and Kate on initiatives like the Earthshot Prize and Heads Together, which focuses on mental health awareness.
He left their foundation in 2021 and has since moved abroad.
In an impactful gesture, Knauf was honored as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by the Prince of Wales during a ceremony at Windsor Castle in 2023, a recognition he holds dearly.
“Receiving this honor means more to me than I can say.
I am incredibly grateful,” he shared.
The circumstance around the bullying allegations was further illuminated in Valentine Low’s book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown.
An excerpt reveals that Knauf had expressed deep concerns about Meghan’s behavior, suggesting that she had bullied two personal assistants out of the royal household in a year’s span.
In 2024, tumultuous health challenges hit the royal family when both Kate and Charles were diagnosed with undisclosed forms of cancer.
William, reflecting on those challenging times, lamented about the hardship faced by his family that year.
Amid these personal struggles, Knauf described a moment when William was at his lowest, having just learned of his family’s health crises.
The whirlwind of speculation across social media added another layer of complication: “Was she really ill?” was a prevalent question as the family navigated how to address the situation with their children.
The documentary also sheds light on a close call regarding the announcement of Princess Charlotte’s birth in 2015.
Knauf recounted how he learned of the birth before many family members and subsequently almost leaked key details when he misplaced the press release containing birth specifics.
Fortunately, despite this faux pas, the announcement went off without a hitch, with Knauf admitting it was a heart-stopping moment.
“My heart was in my mouth until we got to the announcement,” he recalled, relieved that no media outlet had managed to get the scoop before the official confirmation.
Where There’s A Will delves into the insights of Knauf and other royal aides about the future King of England, ultimately pondering the type of leader he will likely become.
Meghan Markle’s behaviour forced staff into ‘therapy’ as new claims emerge
Meghan Markle is once again facing allegations regarding her treatment of staff, with a new bombshell report claiming that some former colleagues were forced to take “extended breaks” from work or undergo “long-term therapy” due to their experiences with her.
The Duchess of Sussex has previously been the subject of negative press concerning her alleged behavior towards staff.
Last year, she was labeled “Duchess Difficult” by The Hollywood Reporter, which claimed that staff were “terrified” of her “belittling” attitude.
These claims ignited a media frenzy, with various outlets citing conflicting reports about Meghan’s workplace demeanor.
New Allegations from Vanity Fair
A recent article from Vanity Fair quotes a former colleague who worked with Meghan on her Spotify podcast, Archetypes.
According to the report, the individual had to take a leave of absence after working on just three episodes.
The outlet further alleges that several other staffers took breaks to “escape scrutiny,” left their jobs entirely, or required “long-term therapy” following their time working with Meghan.
One former colleague stated: “I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better.
“But who am I to criticize Meghan Markle? She’s doing great.”
According to the source, Meghan’s relationship with staff followed a “consistent pattern”: warm and welcoming at first, but becoming “cold and withholding” if things did not go according to her expectations.
The source described the experience as “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.
“And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment.”
They further alleged: “It was undermining. It’s talking behind your back. It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, Mean Girls teenager.”
Conflicting Views on Meghan’s Leadership
Not everyone agrees with these claims.
Producer Jane Marie, who collaborated with Meghan and Prince Harry on audio projects at Archewell, offered a contrasting perspective, telling Vanity Fair: “She’s just a lovely, genuine person.”
Following previous reports of workplace tensions, Meghan has received both criticism and support.
After The Hollywood Reporter’s claims surfaced, Us Weekly published a cover story featuring both named and anonymous staffers defending Meghan, expressing their shock at the negative portrayals.
However, additional allegations have since emerged.
A former courtier who reportedly worked for the Sussexes while they were still part of the royal family described Meghan to The Daily Beast as a “demon” boss with “psycho moments,” claiming she made people “feel like st.” Meghan declined to comment on these accusations.
Ongoing Scrutiny
These reports come on the heels of longstanding bullying allegations against the Duchess, dating back to 2018.
Meghan has consistently denied such claims, maintaining that she has been unfairly targeted by certain sections of the media.
The Duchess of Sussex has been contacted for comment regarding the latest allegations, but no response has been issued at this time.
As speculation continues, the debate surrounding Meghan Markle’s leadership and behavior remains a divisive topic in both the media and public opinion.