Did Meghan Markle Really Make A Royal Staffer Cry?

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are under a lot of international scrutiny right now. Markle was recently awarded $1.87 million in her ongoing suit against the British tabloid The Mail On Sunday (via SheKnows), and the pair also sat down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey that is set to air on CBS on March 7, 2021. The interview is raising a lot of hackles, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, and stories are pouring out that either elevate or decry Harry and Meghan. 

One particularly insidious story that's circulating is one that casts Markle in a decidedly negative light. Page Six has published a claim that Meghan Markle "hissed" at a member of Kensington Palace's staff.

Rebecca English, who works at the Daily Mail (a sister publication of The Mail On Sunday), wrote, "I was there at the time and witnessed Meghan turn an 'hiss' at a member of her entourage, clearly incandescent with rage about something, and demand to leave" (via Page Six).

English goes on to write, "I later saw that same — female — highly distressed member of staff sitting in an official car, with tears running down her face" (via Page Six).

It's worth noting that Harry and Meghan have been targets of an angry British press before; much of the coverage that focuses on Meghan Markle has been racist and inflammatory in nature. A friend of the couple explained to Harper's Bazaar that while Meghan and Harry have been prepared for backlash ever since their interview was announced, attacks on who Meghan is as a person are cutting deep.

"Harry and Meghan knew that it would get ugly in the run up [to the Oprah special], but seeing such an obvious attempt at destroying her character was distressing and upsetting."

Since the allegations came to light, Prince William's team has taken steps toward investigating the claims. On March 3, Prince William's secretary, Simon Case, wrote an email about his concern that Meghan "was able to bully two PA's out of the [royal] household in the past year. ... The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights" (via Harper's Bazaar).

It likely comes as no surprise that Markle's team has come out in full force to deny the allegations. Her representative issued the following 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. It's no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining the duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and the duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years" (via Harper's Bazaar).

Another friend of Markle's has pointed to a consistent problem in how the British press writes about her: racism. "I hate to say it, but find me a woman of color in a senior position who has not been accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace. It's sad that it's happening, but I'm not surprised" (via Harper's Bazaar).