Is she mistreating people? Or is it she who is being harassed? Following her turbulent journey into the royal family, Meghan Markle—who married Prince Harry in 2018—has opened up about the discriminatory treatment she endured as a mixed-race employee of The Firm. Meanwhile, claims that the 43-year-old is "difficult" to work with have followed her about for years.
So much so that in 2022, the Duchess of Sussex addressed the big issue in her “Archetypes” podcast over the B-word, pronounced "b***h." "Difficult," she said, is actually just a code word for the B-word, or maybe it's not even a euphemism at all. Here's some more unfortunate news.
The Hollywood Reporter covered the high turnover in the former “Suits” star's and Prince Harry's household on September 12, including their chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who left after three months in August.
His department saw the departure of Meghan's private secretary in 2022, a press secretary who jetted in 2022, and a PR head who left in 2021. Other members of the group that some former employees refer to as the "Sussex Survivors Club" are the chief executive officer of Prince Harry and Meghan's charity, Archewell, as well as the chief content officer, marketing director, and COO of the foundation.
"Everyone's terrified of Meghan," a person close to the pair told the entertainment news outlet. "She belittles people, she doesn't take advice. They're both poor decision-makers, they change their minds frequently: Harry is a very, very charming person — no airs at all — but he's very much an enabler. And she's just terrible."
Meghan is used to these kinds of intrusions. In 2018, Buckingham Palace investigated her "bullying behavior" against royal employees, yet the investigation's findings were never made public.
The American divorcée referred to the investigation as a "calculated smear campaign." She later claimed that the palace rejected her plea to seek mental health treatment when she was suicidal and declined to defend her against a racist press.
However, the latest story is especially nasty; a source told Star Magazine that she emailed constantly and had tantrums, earning the staff nickname "Duchess Difficult."
"She's unrelentingly persistent," the source stated. "She marches around like a dictator in high heels, fuming and barking orders. I've watched her reduce grown men to tears.”
Meghan and Prince Harry, 40, find the frequent accusations distressing since, like Prince Harry's late mother, Diana, they have tried to present themselves as a gentler version of the royal family, raising Archie,5, and Lilibet, 3. Moreover, it is infuriating that Meghan, who has presented herself as a feminist spokesperson, is facing criticism for advocating for herself, PEOPLE Magazine reported.
"The feeling among Meghan's friends is this is a sexist attitude," an informant told Star Magazine. “It rankles her that she's continually raked over the coals for being tough when a man in her position wouldn't be."
In fact, the insider claimed that a large number of the former employees merely utilized the well-known couple as "stepping stones" to advance in their careers.
"They simply didn't share the Sussexes' vision," the mole added. "Meghan expects a lot out of her employees and has clear ideas of how things should be run."
Meghan and Prince Harry are still sort of fumbling in their jobs, which could be contributing to the issue four years into their residency in the United States. "Spare," Harry's candid memoir, revealed that they had lost their Spotify arrangement.
It was successful, but they haven't produced much content to match their $100 million Netflix contract. Subsequently, Meghan has established her American Riviera Orchard business, but it has only produced a few jam jars that she has gifted to friends, including Mindy Kaling, Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen.
Even though Meghan is still fighting negative publicity, Prince Harry will always defend his wife.
"Harry has nothing but pride for Meghan. Clearly, he sees a lot of his mother. Diana, in her, the parallels have not got unnoticed," the tattler said. "He admires how she speaks her mind. Harrys sees in Meghan only strength and fortitude."
Business Times has reached out to Meghan Markle for comments.
