

The longstanding tension between Prince William and Prince Harry appears to have roots deeper than royal duties and press coverage.
According to revelations in Robert Lacey‘s book Battle of Brothers, one of the most explosive moments in their relationship came when William was shown a series of internal complaints about Meghan Markle’s behavior toward palace staff.
The report, referred to by Lacey as a “dossier of distress,” was compiled by Jason Knauf, a royal aide who had worked closely with the Sussexes.
It allegedly documented instances where Meghan‘s treatment of employees created what insiders described as a toxic workplace environment at Kensington Palace.
Pope Leo XIV faces a deeply divided U.S. Catholic Church
Some staff reportedly received emails from the Duchess as early as 5 a.m., while others were said to be so nervous before meetings with her that they felt physically ill. One former staffer allegedly suffered PTSD as a result of their experience.
Despite the severity of these claims, Meghan reportedly dismissed the complaints. According to a source cited in the book, she responded to one senior aide by saying, “It’s not my job to coddle people.”
But Prince William didn’t take the matter lightly. Lacey writes that when William was presented with the file by Knauf, he was “astonished” and “horrified.”
He allegedly “went ballistic,” feeling betrayed that staff members-some of whom he knew personally-had been subjected to such treatment.
Confrontation leads to worsening royal rift
What followed was a tense and emotional confrontation between the royal brothers. Lacey describes how William immediately called Harry to address the situation.
“The moment the Prince heard the bullying allegations he got straight on the phone to talk to Harry – and when Harry flared up in furious defence of his wife, the elder brother persisted. Harry shut off his phone angrily, so William went straight round to find his brother on the Kensington campus.”
From that point on, the distance between the brothers only grew. In 2019, rumors of a growing rift began circulating. Harry acknowledged the strain publicly in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, admitting, “you have good days, you have bad days.”
By 2020, any pretense of unity had faded when Harry and Meghan announced their departure from royal duties. Later, in the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, Harry claimed that William “screamed and shouted” at him during the Sandringham Summit that formalized their exit.
Further allegations have continued to follow Meghan in the years since. In 2024, The Sunday Times reported that she allegedly berated a florist for 30 minutes over a missing credit in an Instagram post.
Thank you to everyone on the Isles of Iona and Mull for a fantastic two days. It’s been a real pleasure meeting so many wonderful people! Fantastic to see the true community spirit here in the Inner Hebrides, and how you protect and champion the natural environment and each… pic.twitter.com/USlcZrJJdT
? The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 30, 2025
A former colleague described a workplace culture where Meghan would be “warm and effusive” at first but became “cold and withholding” when outcomes didn’t go her way.
One media professional compared her behavior to that of a manipulative teenager, saying, “It’s talking behind your back. It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like, Mean Girls teenager.”
A profile in Vanity Fair echoed these claims, citing former staffers who said working with Meghan could result in emotional damage, and in some cases, led employees to seek therapy.
One source claimed Meghan was “lovely when it is all going her way but a demon when the worm turns.”
However, not all who have worked with her share that view. Jane Marie, a producer who partnered with Meghan and Harry on their Archewell Audio projects, defended her: “She’s just a lovely, genuine person.”
Other sources say Meghan often sent gifts to her staff, including skincare products and dog accessories.
Even Prince Harry has been caught in allegations of workplace misconduct.
Earlier this year, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, chair of the Sentebale charity Harry co-founded, accused him of “bullying at scale,” claiming the prince engaged in abusive leadership practices.
Chandauka reported the matter to the UK Charity Commission, prompting Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso to resign in “solidarity with the board of trustees.”
Reflecting on the rift, Knauf recently described the situation in an Australian documentary as “hard and sad.”
He added: “It’s very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye but he’s chosen to keep his thoughts on it private… I will say of course it’s been hard and sad, especially for all of us who know both of them.”
With every new report, the story of William and Harry‘s broken bond grows more complex-tied not just to family drama, but to deep concerns over leadership, accountability, and the pressures of life within the royal spotlight.
This news was originally published on this post .
Be the first to leave a comment