Long after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ended their working relationship with the royal family, their past may be coming back to haunt them. One of Meghan’s former aides spoke out in a new interview about what it was like to work with her, and apparently, there wasn’t just a lot of staff turnover — it was also reportedly very hard to find new employees who were interested in taking a job working for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Yikes!
Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images
The aide’s name is Samantha Cohen.
In an interview with Australia’s Herald Sun, Samantha copped to being one of the 10 staffers interviewed when Buckingham Palace investigated claims that Meghan had created a hostile work environment.
According to the New York Post, Samantha started working for the royals in 2001 and worked as Meghan’s private secretary in 2021.
She stayed in her role longer than anticipated.
“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 told the news outlet this week.
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
In 2021, Meghan was accused of bullying her employees.
At the time, The Times reported that Meghan had bullied two palace aides to such an extent that they were forced to leave their jobs. One said Meghan had used “emotional cruelty and manipulation” while interacting with the staff.
“The Duchess seems intent on always 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,” read an HR complaint filed against Meghan.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The results of the investigation were never made public.
When the investigation into the staffers’ claims was wrapping up in the summer of 2022, the palace chose not to publicly release the results.
“The review has been completed and recommendations on our (HR) policy and procedures have been taken forward. But we will not be commenting further,” Sir Michael Stevens, who headed up the investigations, said in a statement to The Daily Mail in June 2022.
Meghan has always maintained her innocence.
“The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma,” read the statement she released when the allegations first surfaced. “She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.