Meghan Markle accuses Buckingham Palace of perpetuating falsehoods. (FILE)
London:
Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, accused Buckingham Palace of “continuing to lie” about her and her husband, saying the royal couple would not remain silent to tell their story.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, commented in an interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey on why they ended their royal roles that air on Sunday on American television.
A prequel to the interview was announced Wednesday, hours after Buckingham Palace said it was “very concerned” about reports in the Times newspaper that assistants working for Meghan two years ago had been bullied by her.
Harry and Meghan issued a statement denying that she had bullied anyone.
“How do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today?” Winfrey asks Meghan in the excerpt.
Meghan replied, “I do not know how they could expect us to remain silent after all this time only if there is an active role that The Firm plays in perpetuating falsehoods about us.” The Firm is the name that the British royal family sometimes uses to describe itself.
“And if it’s at risk of losing things, I mean, there’s already a lot that’s been lost,” Meghan added.
The interview was recorded before The Times reported in the name of unknown sources that an assistant had laid a complaint to Harry and Meghan in October 2018 alleging that Meghan reduced some of her assistants to tears. and treated others so badly that they stopped.
According to the newspaper, Harry asked the assistant, who has now left their staff, to drop the complaint, and it never progressed.
According to The Times, it was contacted by former staff members who wanted the public to gain insight before the Winfrey interview aired – and that lawyers for the couple described the allegations as a smear orchestrated by the palace.
Reuters could not independently verify the report.
“We are clearly very concerned about the allegations in The Times following allegations by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
The Royal Household “and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace”, he added.
It is said that the HR team will investigate the allegations, and that staff members involved at the time will be invited to participate.
“SATISFIED BY ATTACK”
A Meghan spokeswoman had earlier said she was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, especially as someone who was the target of bullying herself and committing herself to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma”.
Meghan and Harry, who were married in May 2018, resigned in March last year from their official duties to pursue new careers and a financially independent life in California.
That decision was confirmed last month when they also handed over all their royal protection. They said their move was fueled in part by intense personal intrusion.
However, Meghan also indicated earlier that she feels she does not have the full support of the royal family.
In court documents filed as part of her successful privacy campaign against the Mail on Sunday, her lawyers said she felt ‘unprotected’ while pregnant with their son Archie.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated stream.)