Two Palace Staff Members 'Rescinded' Their Bullying Accusations Against Meghan Markle, Royal Authors Report
Just a few days before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, The Times released an article stating that multiple members of Buckingham Palace's staff had previously accused the American actress of "bullying" them.
At the time, the mom-of-two denied the allegations, with her spokesperson calling it a "smear campaign."
Now, in the newly released version of Finding Freedom, coauthors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim that two of the three palace employees actually "rescinded" their complaints.
In the Times publication, employees stated that they were "humiliated" by the Duchess of Sussex, adding that it felt "more like emotional cruelty and manipulation, which I guess could also be called bullying."
Their words were then brought to the institution's attention by Jason Knauf, the Sussexes' communications secretary — though the article claimed that Harry "pleaded with Knauf not to pursue it."
However, in the unauthorized biography's new epilogue, the coauthors state, "Sources confirmed that upon discovery of Jason [Knauf]'s email, two of the individuals mentioned in the email asked for any allegations made to HR about their experiences with Meghan to be rescinded."
Finding Freedom also claims that the meeting between Knauf and the Duke of Sussex never actually took place.
PRINCE CHARMING IN REAL LIFE! THE 10 MOST ELIGIBLE ROYAL BACHELORS IN THE WORLD — SEE PHOTOS
An anonymous friend of Meghan and Harry's insisted that the drama wasn't an isolated incident, explaining, "It felt like certain individuals at the Palace were doing their very best to undermine and discredit anything they worried the couple may or may not say during the interview."
Actress Janina Gavankar also defended Meghan.
"It was without doubt done intentionally to discredit the duchess," Gavankar told Scobie and Durand. "I have known Meghan for 17 years, and I have seen the way she regards people around her and the people she works with, and I can say she is not a bully."
