On January 8, 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would be stepping down as senior members of the British royal family, a decision soon dubbed “Megxit.”
By the spring of that year, they had fully transitioned out of their royal roles, no longer carrying out official duties.
Life After Royalty and the Oprah Interview
In a revealing 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the emotional and personal struggles behind their decision.
Meghan disclosed she sought help from palace officials due to serious mental health concerns, saying, “I went to one of the most senior people to get help… and I was told no.” She also described approaching the Human Resources department, only to be turned away.
The interview sparked major backlash, especially as it aired shortly before Prince Philip’s death. Among the most serious revelations was the claim that certain royal family members had expressed concern over the potential skin color of their then-unborn son. Harry compared the media treatment of Meghan to what his late mother, Princess Diana, experienced, stating that “history was repeating itself.”
Allegations of Bullying Within the Palace
Following the interview, The Times reported that former staff members alleged Meghan had bullied employees during her time as a working royal.
Jason Knauff, then the communications secretary at Kensington Palace, claimed Meghan “bullied two PAs out of the household” and seemed to “always have someone in her sights.” The allegations prompted an internal palace investigation. Harry and Meghan firmly denied the claims, calling them part of a “wholly false narrative.”
In Valentine Low’s 2022 book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, more disturbing allegations surfaced. According to one ex-aide, Meghan and Harry would scream at staff. “Every 10 minutes I had to go outside to be screamed at by her and Harry… It went on for a couple of hours,” one source recounted. The book claimed that young staff members felt “broken” by the couple’s behavior.
Harry’s Perspective in His Memoir “Spare”
In his memoir Spare, Harry offered his take on the allegations, blaming internal competition and lack of support within the institution. “Rivalry, jealousy, and competing agendas poisoned the atmosphere,” he wrote. He also cited an overwhelming workload and insufficient resources, adding that the environment was already under constant pressure from the media.
Samantha Cohen Breaks Her Silence
In June 2024, Samantha Cohen, who served as Queen Elizabeth II’s press secretary and had worked closely with Harry and Meghan, spoke to The Herald Sun about her experience.
She described the difficulty in retaining staff, noting that she had agreed to stay for six months but ended up working 18 because no replacement could be found. Even after a new aide was finally hired and taken on tour with the couple, they quit during the trip.
Cohen’s experience was also included in Low’s book, where it was revealed she had described working for the Sussexes as being “like working for a couple of teenagers.” The book continued: “They were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable. She was constantly having to battle on Harry and Meghan’s behalf, while taking all this abuse from them.”
Conclusion
Since stepping away from their royal roles, Harry and Meghan have relocated to the United States, where they live with their children and Meghan’s mother.
Despite leaving behind their official duties, the couple remains in the public eye through charitable events and their Archewell Foundation. However, the shadow of past controversies continues to follow them, reignited most recently by voices from inside the palace who are now willing to speak out.