It’s the royal scandal that refuses to die — and now, former staffers are once again coming forward with chilling new details about what they call the “Markle reign of terror” behind palace walls.
Multiple former Kensington Palace aides have reignited claims that Meghan Markle created a toxic environment during her short time as a working royal, describing her as “manipulative, cruel, and emotionally abusive.” One insider bluntly referred to her as “a duchess in name, but a tyrant in practice.”
The revelations come as part of a soon-to-be-released book by a former royal advisor, which includes bombshell interviews with several ex-staffers who claim they were “bullied, gaslit, and broken” during the Sussexes’ time in the UK.
“We were walking on eggshells every day,” said one former assistant, speaking anonymously. “One wrong look, one slightly delayed email, and she would explode.”
Another staff member claims Meghan reduced a young female aide to tears — multiple times — before reportedly telling a senior official: “She’s weak. If she can’t handle me, she shouldn’t be here.”
One aide quit just six months into the job, citing Meghan’s “relentless micromanagement and emotionally manipulative behavior.” Another alleged that Meghan routinely issued late-night demands, sometimes sending staff into full panic over minor details about her wardrobe, press releases, or photo approval.
“She’d pretend to be warm in public,” one former staffer said, “but behind closed doors, she was cold, calculating, and dismissive — especially to those she didn’t see as useful.”
Kensington Palace at the time launched a formal HR investigation into the bullying claims, which the Sussexes publicly denied. Meghan’s lawyers called the allegations a “smear campaign,” but the investigation was quietly buried before its findings were ever released — a move critics now call a cover-up to protect the Firm’s image and Meghan’s carefully curated brand.
But now, as Meghan attempts to relaunch her image in Hollywood with a lifestyle brand and new podcast deals, those inside the royal system say they’re not willing to stay silent anymore.
“She knew exactly what she was doing,” said one former aide. “She played the victim while treating others like disposable staff. It was all about power — and she abused it.”
Even palace veterans say the scale of the claims is unprecedented. One longtime official who served under multiple royal households called Meghan “the most difficult duchess the institution has ever dealt with.”
As public opinion continues to fracture — with fans praising her independence and critics condemning her conduct — one thing is clear: the royal family may have moved on, but the fallout from Meghan’s reign as a ‘nightmare duchess’ is far from over.
