Staff loyal to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex last night gave a glowing report on the couple as a war of words continued over Meghan being labelled a “dictator in high heels”.
Current and former staff made an extraordinary intervention in friendly US media, describing the Sussexes as “attentive” bosses who give staff their children’s old baby clothes, fresh flowers and “care packages”.
Stung by recent allegations, particularly in industry heavyweight the Hollywood Reporter, that “The Difficult Duchess” has made grown men cry while “barking” orders, a number of employees offered a remarkably upbeat account of their working lives to US Weekly magazine in the United States.
Josh Kettler, Harry’s chief of staff who left after just three months in August, sparking the latest round of negative publicity, insists he was “warmly welcomed” by both Harry and Meghan and describes them as “dedicated and hard-working”.
Prince Harry and Meghan photographed during their tour of Colombia on August 17
Staffers reportedly called Meghan a “dictator in high heels”
Pictured: Catherine St-Laurent, former chief of staff to Meghan and Harry
Pictured: Josh Kettler, Harry’s chief of staff, who left after just three months in August.
“It was impressive to witness,” he said, but did not elaborate on why his tenure was so brief.
Ben Browning, Archewell’s former head of content (who was responsible for its revealing Netflix documentary but then left before his contract was up) says his experience at the company and with Meghan and Harry in general “was positive and supportive.”
Her current PR chief, “global press secretary” Ashley Hansen, says she was treated with “the kind of concern and care that a parent would express if it were their own child” when she took time off for surgery, adding that she was also sent flowers and gifts.
“Meghan personally checked in with my husband every day to make sure we were both okay and had support. It meant a lot to him and even more to me. You don’t realize how much that kind of kindness and thoughtfulness means until you need it,” she insisted.
Another anonymous source insists the duke and duchess are “watering the seeds” to make them blossom. Harry, they say, asks on work Zoom calls about what staff have done over the weekend and says as a team they plan events such as karaoke nights and “Christmas parties.”
A former staff member said the couple heard they had adopted a dog: “The next day I had a luxury brand leash and a brand new collar on my doorstep.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the 2024 ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre on July 11 in Hollywood, California
Meghan attends a reception at Government House on October 18, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia.
Maer Roshan (pictured), co-editor-in-chief of the publication, has said she stands by the story, despite the backlash among Sussex supporters.
Prince Harry and Meghan photographed during their tour of Colombia on August 17
The parents-to-be also receive “brand new gifts and top-quality secondhand items from the couple themselves,” such as unused car seats and baby items they no longer need, it said.
“They want to take care of us,” gushed one current employee. “Meghan does things like, ‘You mentioned on the call that your skin is bothering you, I put together a kit for you.'”
And no one is said to leave the couple’s Montecito home empty-handed. “Whenever the staff goes to their home, they leave with a basket of fresh flowers, fresh fruit, fresh eggs,” said one staff member.
“They are the best bosses I’ve ever had,” insists another current member of the team.
It’s a stark contrast to recent reports of a series of departures from his Archewell organization, which combines its media deals with philanthropic efforts.
The latest revelation claiming the Duchess of Sussex is a “dictator in high heels” comes from someone “very senior” who still works for the couple, it has been claimed.
The original Hollywood Reporter article also said that Meghan “doesn’t take advice” and has made “grown men” cry while “barking” orders.
Toya Holness used to work for the Sussexes as their global press secretary.
Prince Harry and Meghan attend the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, watches the awards ceremony at the 2024 Royal Salute Polo Challenge on April 12
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pictured on their visit to Colombia on August 15
Maer Roshan, co-editor-in-chief of the publication, later said she stands by the story, despite the backlash among Sussex supporters.
Mr Roshan says they not only spoke to around a dozen people who had worked closely with Harry and Meghan “now and previously”, but told Access Hollywood that “our reporter spoke to a very high-level source who works for the couple who said everyone is terrified of Meghan”.
The former royal is said to be “disdaining” people and “not taking advice”.
The sudden outpouring of praise will do little to calm speculation surrounding the couple’s behavior.
The Duchess herself has always strongly denied allegations of bullying her staff, particularly in the UK, claiming they were part of a “calculated smear campaign” against her.
Mr Roshan added: ‘Difficult Duchess is a nickname that has followed Meghan for quite a few years.
“What’s new is that since I came to the United States there’s this idea that a lot of these rumors were fabricated by the Palace and the reporting we’ve done suggests they’re probably not true and there’s still this underlying current of fear.”
Buckingham Palace launched its own investigation after the harassment allegations became public, but has declined to reveal the results of its findings.
Insiders have also previously expressed concern to the Mail that former staffers who may have evidence to back up allegations that she bullied several female employees when she lived in the UK as a working royal were never even contacted as part of her internal investigation.
The paper also revealed that former staff had dubbed themselves ‘The Sussex Survivors Club’ and that some were suffering from the equivalent of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured on day 6 of the 2023 Invictus Games
Meghan cries as online hate campaign against her and her relationship is recounted in her Netflix series
Meghan and Prince Harry are seen at the Delia Zapata National Arts Center during their tour of Columbia
It will no doubt be worrying for the Duke and Duchess that the same sort of allegations have followed them to the United States and may explain the latest backlash.
The Hollywood Reporter article also described the couple as “both poor decision-makers” who “change their minds frequently” and called Harry “a very, very charming person” and yet “a great enabler.”
Although they have not made an official statement, a source ‘close’ to Harry and Meghan rejected the claims last week.
They also claimed that a note in her email signature saying staff should not feel obliged to respond outside of normal working hours was evidence that she was not demanding. Staff had previously accused her of sending work emails at antisocial hours.
This comes as Prince Harry continues a series of public appearances in New York ahead of a charity visit to the UK on Monday.
She joked about her wasted youth and spoke of her love for her own children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a call to better protect children from the “harm” caused by social media.
Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 event, she said: “Some say boys will be boys, and, well, that may be true. Kids can get into trouble. I know a thing or two about that. But our kids are being targeted. The harmful effects of social media are intentionally designed.
‘These platforms are designed to be addictive… Young people are kept there by mindless, endless, mind-numbing scrolling, force-fed content that no child should ever be exposed to.’
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