Sussexes were ‘obsessed’ with secrecy which resulted in strained relations

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex became ‘obsessed’ with secrecy, resulting in a strain on their staff and difficulties for the households of other senior Royals.

‘Secrecy was their modus operandi,’ an insider told The Mail on Sunday. Another said: ‘Everything was completely secret. They were obsessed.’

According to sources, the couple’s determination to retain their privacy extended to not sharing their holiday plans with senior advisers to the Queen and Prince Charles.

According to sources, the couple’s determination to retain their privacy extended to not sharing their holiday plans with senior advisers to the Queen and Prince Charles

Their own staff even found themselves out of the loop about basic information. On one occasion, Meghan enlisted her friend Jessica Mulroney to help deal with a media inquiry rather than seek advice from her press secretary Jason Knauf.

From the earliest days of their relationship, Harry indicated a determination to protect Meghan from the media. A statement issued on his behalf in November 2016 said he was ‘worried about Ms Markle’s safety’.

Sources claim that despite being given the freedom to appoint their own team following their marriage, a similar stance was adopted behind Palace walls, heaping pressure on their aides.

One insider said: ‘Most members of the Royal Family work hard to make sure staff feel supported and although there are unique pressures that come with the job, there is an understanding that you must support the staff who support you.’

The scale of the couple’s mistrust of the Palace machine is likely to be laid bare in the interview with Oprah Winfrey.

In an clip released to promote it, the Duchess says: ‘As an adult who lived a really independent life to then go into this construct that is different than I think what people imagine it to be, it’s really liberating to be able to have the right and the privilege in some ways to be able to say, yes, I’m ready to talk.’