A significant royal aide who has worked for Prince William and Kate Middleton for seven years is leaving his job after he also accused Meghan Markle of bullying.
Jason Knauf, who has been the CEO of The Royal Foundation, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's charity, is stepping down from his role due to personal reasons. According to royal reporters, Knauf is relocating to another country as his husband has taken a job based abroad. Reports also cited that William and Middleton are now looking for Knauf's replacement, which will be announced "in due course."
Prince William and Middleton's staff started out as the Communications Secretary for Kensington Palace in 2015. He was cited in Markle's lawsuit with Mail on Sunday and the Associated Newspapers as the person who checked and helped draft the duchess' letter to her father. He was also the person who submitted the claims of bullying against the Duchess of Sussex despite Prince Harry's please that he should not pursue the case.
Buckingham Palace is now investigating the allegations through a third-party law firm. Markle, however, has denied the allegations and asked the investigating panel to provide her with every document in relation to the case. Harry also insisted that he did not meet with Knauf to interfere on the matter a few years ago.
William and Middleton are said to be sad that their top aide is moving on to a new life and job. The couple said that Knauf made an impact in The Royal Foundation but they wish him the very best for his future. In response, the former royal aide said that working with the Cambridges has been a privilege.
However, there are speculations that Knauf became the pawn who didn't get protection from the royal family after he dropped the bullying complaints against Markle at the wrong timing. The incidents of bullying happened in 2018 but the story came out just days before Markle and Harry's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey aired last March 2021.
Apparently, Knauf's ill-timed decision to "expose" the bullying claim made the royal family look bad in the eyes of the public. Speculations suggested that he was asked to quit his job and he had a convenient excuse about his husband's assignment abroad.
Meanwhile, Prince William and Middleton are also in need of a head gardener for their Anmer home in Norfolk. The couple advertised the job as a full-time and permanent role, and they need someone with excellent and practical organic gardening skills.
