A trusted royal aide has confirmed that she was interviewed regarding bullying allegations leveled against Meghan Markle.
Samantha Cohen, who was a member of the royal staff for nearly 20 years, shared in a recent interview with the Herald-Sun that she was one of 10 staff members questioned about the claims.
Although she declined to elaborate, Cohen, 54, alluded to the staff turnover.
“I was only supposed to stay for six months but stayed for 18 – we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left (quit) as well while in Africa,” she said.
News of Markle’s alleged bullying first became public days before her and Prince Harry’s explosive 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.
The Times of London reported that the “Suits” alum, 42, occasionally reduced staff members to tears while she lived at Kensington Palace.
Two senior members of the palace staff were allegedly bullied into quitting their jobs.
The couple’s communications assistant at the time, Jason Knauf, reported the behavior to Prince William’s then-private secretary, Simon Case, in October 2018.
“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,” the HR complaint read.
“The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights,” Knauf reportedly continued. “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.”
He added, “I remain concerned that nothing will be done.”
The Palace later announced it would be launching an investigation, but the findings would not be released.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex strenuously denied the claims and issued a strongly-worded statement.
“Let’s just call this what it is—a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of the Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.”
In “Spare,” Prince Harry, 39, defended his wife as an exemplary boss who “checked on staff who were ill, sent baskets of food or flowers or goodies to anyone struggling, depressed, off sick.”
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She also “bought pizza and biscuits, hosted tea parties and ice-cream socials” for staff members.
Cohen worked closely with the late Queen as a private secretary and was asked by the late Monarch to work with the Duke and Duchess.
She was invited to the couple’s 2018 wedding and is said to have played an important role helping Markle prepare for her first appearance as the Duchess of Sussex at a Buckingham Palace garden party.
But according to royal author Valentine Low, the relationship was difficult.
In his book “Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” Low wrote that Cohen was “screamed at” before and during the pair’s first official tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, despite organizing it.
“Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers,” a source is said to have told Low.
“They (Meghan and Prince Harry) were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.”
