Palace aides take revenge: Insiders claim Meghan moaned she wasn’t getting PAID for royal tours

Palace aides have claimed Meghan moaned she wasn’t getting paid for royal tours, agreed to the Oprah interview six months before Megxit and reduced staff to tears with bullying and tantrums in a bombshell new book.

The explosive extracts of the forthcoming book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown by Valentine Low, were published by The Times today. 

The new book claims that during the royal tour of Australia in October 2018, Meghan did not understand why she had to shake people’s hands or do walkabouts. 

Staff reportedly heard her say: ‘I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.’

Valentine Low also describes the Duchess of Sussex’s attitude towards her staff, describing a meeting where Meghan allegedly lambasted a young female member in front of colleagues over a plan she had presented.

After the woman told her that it would be difficult to execute a new plan, Meghan said: ‘Don’t worry. If there was literally anyone else I could ask to do this, I would be asking them instead of you.’

Meghan is said to have berated staff repeatedly, including one occasion when an employee fell foul of the duchess over a mixup involving press at an engagement.

They said when they tried to call Meghan: ‘She’s not picking up. I feel terrified.

‘This is so ridiculous. I can’t stop shaking.’

An insider said: ‘There were a lot of broken people. Young women were broken by their behaviour.’

They added that one staff member was ‘completely destroyed’ by their experience. 

In another reported incident, Meghan rang an employee repeatedly when she was out for dinner on a Friday to yell at her about what she felt she had been let down on.

The staffer said: ‘Every 10 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.’

They added the calls began again the next morning and went on ‘for days’. The staff member said: ‘You could not escape them.’ 

Private secretary Samantha Cohen was allegedly ‘screamed at’ before and during the couple’s flight to Australia.

A source said: ‘Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers. They were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.’ 

‘She was constantly having to battle on Harry and Meghan’s behalf,’ said a friend, ‘while taking all this abuse from them.’ 

Similarly, she allegedly told one of Harry’s advisers more than six months before they were engaged: ‘I think we both know I’m going to be one of your bosses soon.’

Advisor David Manning, one of many of the couple’s royal aides to quit, would tell colleagues ‘You are dealing with a very difficult lady.’  

In another extract, palace press chief Jason Knauf wrote an email in 2018 to Prince William’s private secretary Simon Case about ‘very serious problems’ with Meghan’s behaviour.

It read: ‘I am very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year… The duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights.’ 

One extract explained how after Meghan’s assistant private secretary, Amy Pickerill, handed in her notice, she refused to travel with her to an engagement that morning.

When senior aide reportedly suggested to Harry and Meghan that staff should be treated with more respect , Meghan allegedly replied: ‘It’s not my job to coddle people.’ 

The book claims Harry and Meghan tried to bend the rules to get hold of a diamond tiara for a rehearsal ahead of their wedding when Meghan’s hairdresser was in London, but were refused by palace staff who said there was a strict protocol to be followed. 

In response, Harry allegedly used explicit language about the the Queen’s dresser Angela Kelly – either about her or to her face – earning him a dressing down by Elizabeth II when the monarch summoned him to a private meeting.

A source said: ‘He was put firmly in his place. He had been downright rude.’ 

One insider also claimed Harry feared being eclipsed by nephew Prince George when the second in line to the throne turns 18.

The source said ‘He had this thing that he had a shelf life. He was fixated [on] this. He would compare himself to his uncle [Prince Andrew].

‘He would say “I have this time to make this impact. Because I can” until George turned 18, was the way he was thinking about it.” Then I will be the also-ran.”

A palace source also revealed to Valentine Low that Meghan told Harry she would break up with him if he didn’t announce publicly they were dating.

According to an extract from the book, a source said she was saying: ‘If you don’t put out a statement confirming I’m your girlfriend, I’m going to break up with you.’

Another insider said: ‘He was freaking out, saying “She’s going to dump me.”‘ 

Security was also said to be an issue as soon as Meghan arrived in London, with no straightforward way of providing Meghan with full-time police protection – stoking tension between the palace and the new couple. 

Elsewhere, it claimed that in August 2019, before their Africa tour, the couple’s US team were working on several deals including with Netflix, Harry’s mental heath series for Apple+, Meghan’s Disney voiceover and an interview with Oprah Winfrey slated for the autumn.

Samantha Cohen, the Queen’s former assistant private secretary, advised them to also do an interview with the British media, suggesting Tom Bradby of ITV.

Meghan was reportedly reluctant, however the Duke of Sussex agreed on the condition that they did not do the interview together or appear in the same shot as this would be contrary to their Oprah deal. 

Palace sources also claimed the couple were constantly being sent gifts from fashion, perfume and jewelry companies when they lived at Kensington Palace.

Their PA refused the luxury items, sticking to the protocol that members of the royal family do not accept commercial gifts, leading to clashes with Meghan. 

The book is due to be published on October 6 by Headline Books.

It was previously reported that Buckingham Palace buried a report on claims the Duchess of Sussex bullied royal staff before Megxit.

Meghan was accused of bullying her staff before she moved to California with Prince Harry as the pair quit as working royals.

Even though the Queen paid for an independent inquiry by a private law firm, the report will never see the light of day, The Sunday Times reported.

Courtiers said it was an attempt to stop stoking tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals.

Only ‘four or five’ former members of the Sussexes’ team in total have been spoken to as part of the Royal Household’s official investigation into the claims.

The couple would have had up to 25 working for them at times – many of whom could be considered potential witnesses.

But nothing has been heard since last summer by any of those involved in the allegations.

Furious Prince Harry ‘SNUBBED dinner with King Charles and William at Balmoral after bust-up when monarch banned Meghan from joining grieving royal family at Scottish estate the day The Queen died – causing the duke to miss his flight’

By Matthew Lodge For Mailonline

Furious Prince Harry snubbed dinner with King Charles III and his brother the Prince of Wales at Balmoral after a row with his father when the new monarch banned Meghan Markle from joining the grieving Royal Family on the day the Queen died, sources have claimed.

The Duke of Sussex reportedly wanted his wife to join him as royals raced to the Scottish estate to say their final goodbyes to their beloved mother and grandmother on September 8. 

However, Britain’s new King phoned his youngest son and told him it was ‘not appropriate’ for the former Suits actress to be there, according to reports. 

It is claimed that in the ensuing row, during which Harry fought to persuade his father to allow Meghan to come with him, he missed a flight carrying William and their uncles Andrew and Edward to Scotland – and with it the chance to bid farewell. 

The prince – who plunged the monarchy into crisis after he and the duchess sensationally quit royal duties and left the UK for California two years ago, before making a series of stunning allegations against The Firm – was so angry that his wife had been banned, and that he had missed his first flight, that he refused to have dinner that evening with Charles, William and Queen Consort Camilla. 

Instead, he ate with the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex before leaving early the next morning, The Sun reports.

The Sun quotes a source as saying: ‘Harry was so busy trying to get Meghan to Balmoral and rowing with his family that he missed the flight.

‘Charles has an open invitation for Harry to dine with him whenever he is in the country.

‘But Harry was so furious that he refused to eat with his father and brother.

‘It was a massive snub. And he got out of Balmoral at the earliest opportunity to catch the first commercial flight back to London.’

The next morning he was the first member of the Royal Family to leave, boarding an early British Airways flight from Aberdeen where he was pictured comforting an airport worker after she passed along her condolences for his grandmother’s death.

Harry headed back to Meghan at 8.28am, where he was sat alone in the rear of a Range Rover as he was driven out of the Royal Family’s Scottish home, where he had arrived at 7.52pm the night before.

He was swept into Aberdeen airport at 9.20am, led by five police outriders, and boarded a flight to London leaving at 10am.

Harry wore a black suit and carried a shoulder bag as he walked towards the steps of the plane. An airport worker offered her sympathies as the Prince was about to walk up the steps of a British Airways aircraft.

The woman, who was dressed in a high- visibility yellow jacket, addressed Prince Harry. The royal smiled and patted her gently in the shoulder before boarding the aircraft for London’s Heathrow Airport.

Less than 12 hours earlier grief had been written on the Duke’s face after landed in Scotland following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

He had his head bowed and partially covered his face as he was driven out of Aberdeen airport, arriving at Balmoral after dark.

The Queen’s death had forced an unexpected reunion between Harry and the rest of the Royal Family. 

The Sussexes, whose comments since Megxit has caused a rift with the royals, especially William, were not expected to see any royals during their tour of the UK and Europe – despite staying yards from the Cambridges during their pseudo-royal tour of Europe – until Her Majesty’s passing.

Since then the pair have taken part in more than a week of national mourning with other members of the Royal Family.

Harry was prominent in a number of processions and services, walking behind his grandmother’s coffin as it was transported from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, and again as it was subsequently moved to Westminster Abbey for her funeral.

Meanwhile, Meghan joined her husband for the Queen’s funeral and committal service on Monday, September 19, as well as for the coffin procession to Westminster Hall on September 14.

The pair also appeared to put on a united front with the Prince and Princess of Wales, heading out together to greet mourners and well-wishers at Windsor Castle.

It was claimed earlier this week that Meghan requested a ‘one-to-one’ meeting with King Charles in a bid to heal rifts before she left for California with Harry after the Queen’s funeral.

Neil Sean, an entertainment correspondent who has appeared on NBC News, MSNBC and Access Hollywood, said that he had heard from a ‘very good source’ that the American actress had sent a letter requesting a private conversation with the King.

Mr Sean claims that Meghan wanted to ‘clear the air’ amid reports the couple would fly back to the US as soon as they can to see their children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one.

‘She’d now like before they return back to California to have a one-to-one audience with King Charles III,’ Sean said in a video posted to YouTube, that has recorded nearly 300k views.

‘That’s right—Meghan one-to-one with King Charles. You heard correct.

‘It’s a very brave move from Meghan herself,’ Sean said.

Detailing the content of the letter, he said: ‘It would be an opportunity to clear the air, pull the rights from wrongs and explain some of the rationale behind what they’ve been doing over the last two years.

‘Now, you know, you have to admire Meghan’s self-belief, whatever you think.’

However, in a twist, royal sources claimed it was ‘very unlikely’ that the Duchess of Sussex had written such a letter.

Charles is known to want to heal his relationship with his son and his wife, even saying how much he loved them in his first address as King, making it ‘very unlikely’ he would ignore such a request if it happened, one source said.

Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes have not commented on the claims, however royal sources told MailOnline that Meghan would be ‘very unlikely’ to trouble the King as he mourns his mother after yesterday’s funeral and as he grapples with his first days as King. 

Another insider said it would be ‘odd’ for the Duchess to write formally to the King directly for a meeting, given Harry would have a direct path to his father.

While William and Harry have put aside their disagreements for royal events in recent days, fears over the content of Harry’s upcoming memoir continue to cast a cloud over their relationship – especially following the bombshell interview he and Meghan gave to Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 when they accused an unnamed royal of racism.

Rumours of a rift between the brothers first emerged in 2019 when they divided their households following various disagreements about Harry’s role, but their feud deepened amid the fallout from the Megxit saga in 2020.

But the death of the Queen has seen the rivals shelve their differences, with William and Kate joined by Harry and Meghan for the first occasions in more than two years since Commonwealth Day in March 2020.

A royal source told the Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey that Prince William and Kate, felt ‘the focus should solely be on this period of deep mourning and nothing else. The focus should only be on his late grandmother’. 

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry were both again banned from saluting during the procession to Westminster Abbey on Monday – while other royals including King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Anne all performed the gesture.

Members of the Royal Family saluted when the Queen’s coffin was taken into the Abbey. But Andrew and Harry simply stood still because they were not allowed to wear military uniform, as neither are now working royals.

It comes after Harry and Andrew were also prohibited from saluting at the funeral procession to Westminster Hall. Andrew did also not salute at the vigil in Edinburgh for the same reason.

The decision to ban Harry and Andrew from wearing military uniforms in most events following the Queen’s death at Balmoral is a reminder of how both now have limited involvement in the Royal Family.

Prince Harry spent ten years in the Army, but he was stripped of his honorary military titles in 2020 after he and his wife announced they were stepping down as senior working royals and moving abroad.

His uncle the Duke of York, who was forced to stand down from public life in 2019 over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, is the only other royal banned from wearing military uniform at the ceremonial events and funeral.

Meghan was ‘unresponsive’ to Queen Consort Camilla’s attempts to give her advice and support when she first joined the Royal Family, book claims

By Jessica Taylor for MailOnline 

The Duchess of Sussex was ‘unresponsive’ to Queen Consort Camilla’s advice to her when she first joined The Firm, a royal book has claimed.

A new biography of the Queen Consort, written by Angela Levin, claims the then-Duchess of Cornwall organised lunches with Meghan and did her best to welcome her into the family – but her advice fell flat with an ‘unresponsive’ Meghan.

An extract of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: A Royal Survivor, which was published in the Telegraph, Levin claims Camilla was keen to help Meghan at the beginning of her relationship with Harry after herself struggling to be accepted by the Royal Family, and ‘warmly’ welcomed her when she first arrived in London.

Levin added King Charles, who was then Prince of Wales, enjoyed Meghan’s company and often spoke to her about theatre and the arts.

In an attempt to help the Duchess of Sussex ‘find her feet’, the Queen Consort advised her on how to handle the pressure of being in the public eye and the scrutiny she would face as a senior member of the Royal Family.

Levin quoted an unnamed source who told her at the time: ‘She doesn’t want to see anyone struggling and she is fond of Meghan.’

Despite Camilla’s efforts, Levin claimed the Duchess ‘seemed bored’ and ‘preferred to go her own way’ in carving out a role for herself within The Firm. 

The author also acknowledged the Duchess of Sussex’s reputation within the family for being an incredibly hard worker, noting the cookbook she made contributions to which had been put together by survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Paying tribute to Meghan’s work with the Grenfell community, Levin noted how the Queen Consort invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, plus Camilla’s friend Lucia Santa Cruz, to lunch at Highgrove, and made sure the menu had been cultivated specifically from recipes in the Grenfell Tower cookbook – which Lucia described as ‘a really nice gesture’.

The account detailed by Levin comes as another royal book claims the Queen Consort ‘spluttered over her tea’ when Prince Harry suggested bringing in a third-party mediator to heal the rift between himself and Meghan and the rest of the family.

In The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, by Katie Nicholl, which has been serialised in Vanity Fair, Nicholl wrote how relations between the Duke and Duchess and the rest of the family were most strained after Harry and Meghan did not come to the UK in March 2021 to attend the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service.

At the time, reports claimed Harry had concerns over his family’s security arrangements while in the UK.

Nicholl wrote that King Charles, who was then Prince of Wales, invited Harry and Meghan to tea just weeks after the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service, as the couple stopped off in the UK before heading to The Hague to attend an Invictus Games event.

However, an unnamed family friend told Nicholl the meeting was ‘awkward’ and only lasted for around 15 minutes after the Duke and Duchess were late to meet then-Prince Charles and then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla.

They claimed: ‘[Harry] actually suggested that they use a mediator to try and sort things out, which had Charles somewhat bemused and Camilla spluttering into her tea.’

They added the Queen Consort told the Duke his suggestion was ‘ridiculous’ and that they would resolve their differences within the family.