The former royal aide nicknamed ‘Samantha the Panther’ who worked as Harry and Meghan’s private secretary claimed her replacement quit during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip to Africa.
Samantha Cohen served as Queen Elizabeth’s press secretary for 17 years and then as her assistant and private secretary.
She stopped working for the royal household in 2019 after a period as private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a job she took on at the queen’s request.
Mrs Cohen resigned after being “treated harshly” and comparing the job to “working with teenagers”, according to historian Valentine Low in her book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown.
In an interview with an Australian media, the Herald of the sunShe claimed that she stayed in her position three times longer than she had originally planned because officials struggled to find a replacement for her.
When a new private secretary was found, they resigned during Harry and Meghan’s tour of Africa in 2019, Cohen claimed.
She said: “I was only supposed to stay six months but I stayed for 18 – we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on a tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left.” also while you are in Africa.’
Samantha Cohen, the former royal aide nicknamed ‘Samantha the Panther’ who worked as Harry and Meghan’s private secretary, claimed her replacement resigned during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip to Africa. Above: Ms. Cohen at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018
She claimed she stayed in her role three times longer than she had originally planned because officials struggled to find a replacement for her. When she found herself a new private secretary, they resigned during Harry and Meghan’s tour of Africa in 2019, Cohen claimed. Above: Harry and Meghan meet a group of dancers in Nyanga Township in Cape Town, South Africa.
Harry and Meghan’s ten-day tour with their son Archie began in Cape Town, South Africa. They also visited Botswana, Angola and Malawai in what was their last official trip before they stopped working as royals.
In an ITV documentary filmed during the trip, Meghan claimed to broadcaster Tom Bradby that courtiers never asked her if “I’m okay” and said she struggled to cope with intense media scrutiny, saying she “existed, not lived.”
Mrs Cohen confirmed in the interview with the Herald Sun that she was one of 10 courtiers who were interviewed over claims the duchess “bullied” palace staff.
It came after Harry and Meghan’s communications secretary, Jason Knauf, made a bullying complaint in 2018.
However, Cohen declined to comment further on the claim, which was strongly denied by the Duchess of Sussex’s legal team.
Cohen was a guest at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018 and is believed to have helped play a key role in preparing Meghan for a garden party at Buckingham Palace, which was her first appearance as the Duchess of Sussex.
Knauff had alleged to the Palace’s human resources department that Meghan bullied two personal assistants “outside the house” within a year and was attacking other employees.
He said in an email leaked to the Times that he was also worried about Ms. Cohen.
He indicated that she was experiencing extreme stress and said: “I asked if the House policy on bullying and harassment applies to directors (the term used to refer to a member of the royal family).”
In his shocking memoir Spare, Harry lashed out at the bullying allegations, saying: “It was so outrageous that even though Meg and I proved his lie with a 25-page report to HR full of evidence, it was going to be very difficult for us.” . let him ignore it.’
The Palace’s final report was kept private to protect participants.
Ms Cohen said: “I was only supposed to stay six months but I stayed for 18 – we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on a tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ins and outs but they He also left while in Africa.
Cohen, nicknamed ‘Samantha the Panther’ for her no-nonsense attitude, served as Queen Elizabeth’s press secretary for 17 years and then as her assistant and private secretary. She stopped working for the royal household in 2019 after a period as private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Above: Ms Cohen is seen behind the Queen and Meghan at a ceremony to open the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Widnes in June 2018.
Harry and Meghan’s ten-day tour with their son Archie began in Cape Town, South Africa. Above: Meghan dancing with locals in Nyanga township, South Africa
According to The Times, Knauff told Simon Case, who was then Prince William’s private secretary and is now cabinet secretary, in 2018 that he was “very concerned that the Duchess may have intimidated two personal assistants out of the house.” last year”. The treatment of X* was totally unacceptable.’
He added: ‘The duchess seems determined to always have someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and trying to undermine her confidence.
“We have received report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.”
Allegations of bullying emerged just days before Harry and Meghan’s incendiary interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The duchess’s representatives said the allegations were “being used by Buckingham Palace to sell a totally false narrative based on misguided and harmful information.”
A former employee told the newspaper that he had been personally “humiliated” by the duchess.
It was claimed that staff would burst into tears. An aide told a colleague, anticipating a confrontation with the duchess: “I can’t stop shaking.”
One attendee reportedly said it felt “more like cruelty and emotional manipulation, which I guess you could also call bullying.”
Sources claimed little appeared to have been done to address the complaints.
One was quoted as saying: ‘The institution simply protected Meghan constantly. All the men in gray suits he hates have a lot to answer for, because they did absolutely nothing to protect the people.
Meghan’s lawyer, Jenny Afia, said the allegations were “absolutely false” and did not match her experience of her.
Meghan’s friend Janina Gavankar said: “I’ve known her for 17 years and I’ve seen the way she treats the people around her and I can say she’s not a bully.”
A statement from Buckingham Palace said after the bullying allegations emerged: “We are clearly very concerned by the allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
‘Accordingly, our human resources team will investigate the circumstances described in the article.
‘Members of staff involved at the time, including those who left the home, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned.
“The Royal Household has implemented a Dignity at Work policy for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”
Harry and Meghan’s communications secretary, Jason Knauf, made a bullying complaint in 2018. Above: Knauff with Prince William when he was appointed lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in May last year.
Ms Cohen also told the Herald Sun that Queen Elizabeth “loved” it when things went wrong because it “gave spice to life”.
She said: ‘The Queen had no ego, she was very comfortable in her own skin, but she loved it when things went wrong.
“If a cake wasn’t cut or a plaque wasn’t revealed because everything was perfectly organized, that added spice to your life when things went wrong.”
Cohen, who said the Queen was a “special woman” who he misses, added that the “best moments” were accompanying the monarch on her two royal tours to South Australia and Queensland in 2002 and 2011.
Originally from Brisbane, Australia, Ms Cohen began her career as a journalist at Australia’s Sunshine Coast Daily before working for the Australian government.
She now works as chief of staff to the global chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto.