By Sheila Mckenzie-
Buckingham Palace is to conduct an investigation into allegations of bullying by the Dutchess Of Sussex against former royal staff and has launched an investigation into the claims.
The investigation is to include an invitation to Past and present employees to be invited to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan, following claims she drove out two personal assistants and staff were “humiliated” on several occasions.
The announcement comes days ahead of their potentially bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey to be aired in the U.S on March 7. The interview features the Sussex’s of accusing ”the firm” (royal family) of perpetuating falsehoods against Harry and Meghan.
Meghan’s spokesperson yesterday expressed the Dutchess’s sadness at the news, adding that they felt their staff were happy.
Lawyers for Harry and Meghan told the Times that the allegation was “being used by Buckingham Palace to peddle a wholly false narrative” about Meghan’s behaviour. Knauf is now chief executive of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Foundation, the primary charitable vehicle for William and Kate.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned.
“The royal household has had a dignity at work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”
It is the first time the actions of a member of the royal family have been investigation by the royal household’s human resources (HR) department.
Jason Knauf, the Sussexes’ then communications secretary, made a bullying complaint in October 2018 in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff.
Mr Knauf reportedly sent an email outlining the duchess’s alleged actions to Simon Case, the Duke of Cambridge’s then private secretary and now the cabinet secretary, after conversations with Samantha Carruthers, the head of human resources.