After stepping into the royal spotlight, Meghan Markle has faced repeated accusations regarding her treatment of staff.
Although she has consistently denied such claims, details from her past conduct keep surfacing.
Royal journalist Rebecca English recently revealed an unsettling incident where Markle allegedly “turned and hissed” at a member of her team, resulting in the staffer being left in tears.
The reported event took place during Markle’s tour of Fiji in October 2018, part of a larger trip covering Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga.
At the time, Markle was pregnant.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, English recounted, “I was present when Meghan turned and hissed at her aide, clearly furious about something, demanding that they leave immediately.” She continued, “I later noticed that same female staffer in an official vehicle, tears streaming down her face.
When our eyes met, she quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed and upset.”
The Sun reported that Markle was uneasy about the presence of UN Women, an organization dedicated to women’s empowerment.
This concern reportedly led to her rapid evacuation by security staff after she whispered something to her aide.
One attendee described the conditions at the event: “It was extremely hot and humid, which may not have been ideal for a woman in her condition.
After giving a brief talk, she suddenly spoke again to her aide before being ushered out swiftly.”
Moreover, claims have emerged that staff working for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex refer to themselves as the ‘Sussex Survivors Club.’
English added that some former employees had even experienced post-traumatic stress following their tenure with the couple.
Last year, an ex-member of the royal staff described a harrowing experience, stating Markle “screamed on the phone” at a florist for half an hour.
This source remarked that they would never take on Markle as a client again, despite the prestige associated with her name.
Her staff reportedly described working with her as akin to being treated like disposable labor.
Markle’s purportedly challenging behavior earned her the unfortunate nickname ‘Duchess Difficult.’ In his book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, author Tom Quinn shared that she was also referred to as ‘Me-Gain’ and ‘Di Lite’ due to staff frustrations surrounding their working relationship.
A palace staff member conveyed to Quinn, “She could be challenging, likely because she struggled to navigate the complexities of a fundamentally archaic and intricate system.”
Despite mounting allegations, Markle’s team has staunchly refuted claims of unprofessional conduct.
Security footage from the Fiji tour depicts the Duchess communicating quietly with an aide before her abrupt removal.
Lawyers representing Markle have indicated that her departure had nothing to do with UN Women, as she had previously collaborated with them and met their representatives later during her time on the island.
Witnesses expressed mixed sentiments about her demeanor during the market visit.
Observers noted that Markle appeared somewhat troubled and disengaged amidst the crowd, an unusual presentation for her.
The heat and humidity were cited as potential stressors during her brief interaction with locals before she was quickly led away.
The initial reasoning given for her sudden exit was that crowd control issues had arisen.
However, numerous attendees insisted that the atmosphere inside remained tranquil, with patrons kept at a respectful distance from the Duchess.
Kensington Palace maintained their stance that Markle did fulfill her scheduled commitments despite leaving early.
As Meghan and Harry’s narrative continues to unfold, it is clear that the pressure of royal life comes with significant scrutiny.
They made headlines with their controversial departure from royal duties in what has become known as “Megxit.”
Amidst the ongoing conversations regarding their roles and relationships within the royal sphere, tensions seem to be lingering just below the surface, with past grievances still holding sway.
For now, Markle is no stranger to controversy, as the shadows of her past interactions with staff loom large, leaving many to wonder how this could affect her public image moving forward.
