Royal Family News
Prince William Splits Household From Prince Harry Following Alleged Phone Argument Over Meghan Markle’s Bullying Claims
According to a new book by royal author Robert Lacey, Prince William split his household from Prince Harry's after an angry phone conversation over claims that Meghan Markle was bullying palace staff in 2018.
The book, Battle of the Brothers, which is featured in The Times, claims that a friend of the Sussexes said William threw Harry out after the furious phone call, which allegedly ended with the Duke of Sussex hanging up on his brother.
The book also claims that William suspected Meghan was hostile to the royal system and possibly planned on leaving the monarchy from the very start and returning to America.
Staff claim in the book that Meghan played the victim, but was a bully and treated courtiers poorly in line with her experiences in Hollywood, a modus operandi allegedly passed on to Harry who was head-screaming at his staff.
However, Meghan and Harry have always denied the bullying allegations.
William is alleged to have told a friend he thought she had an agenda and felt hurt and betrayed by the rift, with the heir to the throne telling a friend his wife Kate had been wary of Meghan from the start.
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He said he felt Meghan was stealing his beloved brother away from him, according to extracts from the book, and believed that she did not understand how the royal system worked.
Lacey quotes a Kensington Palace courtier as saying that Meghan portrayed herself as the victim, but she was the bully.
People felt run over by her.
They thought she was a complete narcissist and sociopath, basically unhinged.
The author also writes that he believes that William thought that Meghan had an agenda and had voiced his reservations to Harry before their engagement, but that the row after Meghan and Harry's trip to Australia in 2018 sealed his decision to split their households.
The rift was sparked by an official email claiming Meghan was bullying palace staff, which was sent by Jason Naff, communications secretary to the Cambridges and Sussexes, in October 2018.
Staff had already been allegedly coined a half-joke hash-free Harry.
A spokesman for the Sussexes has since said the couple are the target of a smear campaign, and denied allegations of bullying.
William heard the allegations from Simon Case, his private secretary, who was sent the email.
He immediately picked up the phone to call his brother, but the conversation ended with Harry slamming down the phone, the book claims.
Lacey also dwelled on the Sussex interview with Oprah Winfrey, where the author wrote Prince Harry claimed the brothers' falling out began because the firm was jealous his wife Meghan was so good with people, something he said echoed his mother Princess Diana's treatment.
Kensington Palace was known for keeping courtiers in their jobs for long periods of time, so it was unusual when multiple aides quit in a short space of time.
As those who left formed an informal fraternity they called Sussex Survivors Club, Mr. Naff decided to do something to combat the alleged treatment.
Texas-born and New Zealand-educated Mr. Naff was known for having a kind demeanour and loyalty to his staff.
Despite being one of Meghan's closest advisors, Mr. Naff decided to send the email because his once sympathetic attitude towards the Duchess had shifted.
One aide told a colleague that they can't stop shaking in anticipation of an encounter with Meghan, while another accused her of emotional cruelty and manipulation.
Another claimed they were left with post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, after working for the Duchess.
One courtier told Lacey that they overheard a conversation between Harry and one of his top aides.
Harry was screaming down the phone.
Team Sussex was a really toxic environment.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were said to be paternalistic about their staff, just being really nice to make up for the low pay.
When William was told of the bullying allegations he was enraged, the book claims, because he knew the staff personally and considered him to be assets to the palace.
It also confirmed his suspicions Meghan was hostile to the royal system, and he wondered if she planned all along to bring Harry with her to the US.
Meghan's lawyers and PR said this was the wrong interpretation of their client's thinking in a statement provided to the Times in March 2021.
The book claims that Harry and William were no longer on speaking terms before Harry and Meghan left for Australia, adding that it was bullying allegations that sparked a brutal row.
While it was previously assumed Prince Harry decided to split the households, it was actually Prince William who made the call.
He wanted to be separated from Meghan, according to the book.
After the argument in autumn 2018, Mr Case was told to start the process of dividing the two households immediately, Lacey wrote.
The book also alleges that some sources claim in the heat of arguments the word racist was used, though others deny this.
In the interview with Oprah, Harry said he believed unconscious bias may have played a part in Meghan's treatment.
In conclusion, the book highlights the growing tension between William and Harry over Meghan Markle's alleged bullying of palace staff.
The book claims that William suspected Meghan was hostile to the royal system and possibly planned on leaving the monarchy from the very start and returning to America.
The rift was sparked by an official email claiming Meghan was bullying palace staff, which was sent by Jason Naff, communications secretary to the Cambridges and Sussexes, in October 2018.
Despite the allegations, Meghan and Harry have always denied the bullying claims.