Meghan Markle is described as a generous boss who gives gifts like dog leashes and skincare products, making her staff feel valued, according to claims made in Us Weekly.
This contrasts with The Hollywood Reporter's portrayal of her as a "dictator in high heels" who allegedly "belittles" staff. Sources close to Meghan and Harry dismissed the story as a "fabrication" in The Daily Beast.
Former staffers praised the couple. Josh Kettler, Harry's former chief of staff, said he was “warmly welcomed,” and Catherine St-Laurent called her time working with them "incredibly meaningful." Ben Browning, who worked on the Netflix documentary, described his experience as “positive and supportive.”
Current staff members were even more complimentary. Ashley Hansen, the couple's global press secretary, shared Meghan’s personal concern during her surgery which left a lasting impression. “You don’t realize how much that kind of kindness and thought means until you need it.”
Current and former staffers have anonymously offered the highest praise for Meghan Markle. “Harry and Meghan picked the best of the best from every field and watered the seeds for them to flourish,” one said. , “We’re planning a karaoke night because we have two people getting married on the team," another staffer said.
Acts of kindness seem to define the couple’s leadership. Meghan and Harry reportedly gift fresh eggs from their own chickens, flowers, and fruit to staff during house calls. One former staffer recalled receiving a luxury dog leash and collar after adopting a pet. Another said Meghan would surprise people by responding to things that they said "You mentioned on the call your skin is bothering you, I put together a kit for you.”
These accounts contrast sharply with claims made by Jason Knauf, who was Meghan’s press secretary during her time as a royal. In a 2018 letter to Simon Case, then Prince William’s private secretary, Knauf wrote, “I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable.” He also stated, “The duchess seems intent on having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.”
Meghan denied the bullying accusations, claiming The Times of London was smearing her. The allegations surfaced just days before her much-anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey aired.
Meghan Markle talks to Oprah
In his book Courtiers, author Valentine Low cited an unnamed former staffer who said, “You could not escape them. There were no lines or boundaries—it was last thing at night, first thing in the morning.” The source also claimed, “Every ten minutes, I had to go outside to be screamed at by her and Harry. It was, ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this. You’ve let me down. What were you thinking?’ It went on for a couple of hours.”
Buckingham Palace commissioned a report on bullying within the palace, but its findings were never made public.