Prince Harry has long been a staunch defender of his wife, Meghan Markle,
especially when it comes to the controversies and criticisms she has faced since joining the British royal family.
One of the most prominent and damaging claims made against Meghan was that she had bullied several royal staff members during her time as a working royal.
These allegations, first reported in 2021, painted Meghan as someone difficult to work with, accusing her of creating a hostile work environment.
However, Prince Harry has consistently stood by his wife,
refuting the claims and suggesting that they are part of a larger smear campaign aimed at discrediting Meghan and tarnishing her reputation.
The bullying allegations came to light shortly before the broadcast of Harry and Meghan’s infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
In the days leading up to the interview, reports surfaced accusing Meghan of mistreating staff members while she and Harry were still living at Kensington Palace. These claims originated from a complaint reportedly filed by a senior royal aide in 2018, which alleged that Meghan’s behavior had driven two personal assistants to quit and undermined the morale of a third staff member. The timing of these accusations raised questions about their validity, with some observers speculating that they were strategically leaked to discredit Meghan ahead of the couple’s tell-all interview.
In response to these allegations, Buckingham Palace announced an internal investigation into the claims. They stated that they were taking the matter seriously and would examine the circumstances surrounding the accusations. However, Harry and Meghan quickly hit back, denying the allegations and characterizing them as part of a coordinated attack by the institution to silence and marginalize Meghan. Their spokesperson described the accusations as a “calculated smear campaign” designed to distract from the issues the couple would be raising in their Oprah interview, particularly those related to racism and the lack of support Meghan received during her time as a senior royal.
Throughout this controversy, Harry remained firm in his defense of Meghan. In interviews and public statements, he has repeatedly expressed his frustration and hurt over how his wife has been treated by both the media and certain factions within the royal institution. In their Oprah interview, Harry emphasized that his primary concern was protecting Meghan from the same forces that had, in his view, contributed to the death of his mother, Princess Diana. He made it clear that he believed there was a concerted effort to attack and undermine Meghan, and the bullying allegations were just another example of this.
Prince Harry has suggested that the bullying accusations are rooted in the discomfort some within the royal establishment felt towards Meghan’s outspokenness and independence. Meghan, who had a successful career as an actress before marrying Harry, was used to having her own voice and being in control of her public image. However, royal life demanded a different kind of behavior, one that often involved deference to tradition and protocol. According to Harry, this clash of cultures and expectations created friction within the royal household, and the bullying allegations were a reflection of the resistance Meghan faced from those who were unwilling or unable to accept her modern, outspoken approach to her royal duties.
Furthermore, Harry has expressed his belief that race played a significant role in the negative treatment Meghan received. As a biracial woman, Meghan was subjected to racist and sexist attacks in the media, which often perpetuated harmful stereotypes. Harry has pointed out that the royal institution failed to protect Meghan from these attacks, and in some cases, may have even contributed to them. He has drawn parallels between the bullying allegations and the way the media hounded his mother, Diana, noting that both women were vilified for stepping outside the traditional roles expected of them. In this sense, Harry sees the allegations not as a reflection of Meghan’s character, but as part of a broader pattern of hostility towards women who challenge the status quo.
In the months following the initial reports, the internal investigation conducted by Buckingham Palace continued, but the results were not made public. This lack of transparency has fueled further speculation about the true nature of the allegations and the motivations behind them. For Harry and Meghan’s supporters, the secrecy surrounding the investigation is proof that the accusations were baseless and politically motivated. They argue that if there had been any real substance to the claims, the palace would have been more forthcoming with the results. On the other hand, critics of the couple believe that the investigation’s findings may have been withheld to avoid further damaging the monarchy’s reputation.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Harry has remained unwavering in his commitment to defending Meghan. He has spoken candidly about the toll the allegations and the wider media scrutiny have taken on their mental health, particularly on Meghan, who admitted in the Oprah interview that she had struggled with suicidal thoughts during her time as a working royal. For Harry, the bullying allegations are just one facet of a much larger problem: the lack of empathy and support Meghan received from the royal family and the broader institution. He has repeatedly stated that his decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the United States was motivated by a desire to protect his wife and children from the relentless negativity they faced in the U.K.
Ultimately, the bullying allegations remain a contentious issue. While some believe that Meghan’s actions were indicative of a deeper problem within the royal household, others view the accusations as part of a broader effort to undermine her. Prince Harry’s defense of Meghan throughout this ordeal has only strengthened the narrative that their departure from royal life was driven by a need to escape a toxic environment. In Harry’s eyes, the allegations against Meghan are yet another example of the systemic mistreatment and hostility they faced, both from within the royal institution and from the media. As their post-royal life continues to unfold, it is clear that these issues will remain central to their story and the way they are perceived by the public.
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