Royal drama on Prince Harry's 40th birthday

Things are not going well for the expatriate royals Prince Harry and Meghan. Meghan is said to be “unbearable”. Her staff call her the “difficult duchess” and accuse her of “frightening” and “degrading” people. According to the US portal “Hollywood Reporter”, a source close to the couple claimed that Meghan “degrades people and doesn't take advice”.

The insider also described the couple as “both bad decision makers” who “change their minds frequently” – with Harry described as a “very, very charming person”. The portal reported allegations that Megan was “absolutely relentless” and “marched around like a dictator in high heels, pissed off and barking orders”, adding: “I've seen her make grown men cry.”

Harsh accusations against Meghan

The new allegations come as the couple prepare to celebrate the Duke of Sussex's 40th birthday on Sunday. However, Harry is reportedly not in the mood to celebrate as he is feeling increasingly lonely in the US and considers his bodyguard David Langdown to be his “best friend”.

© Getty

×

The voices – especially against Meghan – became louder after a veritable flood of resignations from the couple's staff. Among them was the couple's chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who threw in the towel after just three months. Meghan's “loud tantrums” and “angry emails at 5 a.m.” have also earned her the nickname “Duchess Difficult” among her staff.

Problems with staff already in London

Even before her move to California, Meghan was said to have had problems with palace staff in London. Royal family staff then launched an investigation into allegations that Meghan had behaved “degradingly” towards two personal assistants. The staff were reportedly in tears and felt “traumatized”; some compared her condition to post-traumatic stress disorder. When confronted with this, Meghan spoke of a “calculated smear campaign” against her.

Meghan Markle, recently a guest at the SXSW 2024 conference

© Getty Images

×

Harry and Meghan are said to have lost at least 18 staff members since their wedding in 2018. Nine or more people have had their positions let go since the couple fled the UK for California in 2020, including their global press secretary Toya Holness and Meghan's top adviser and personal secretary Samantha Cohen.

Harry celebrates 40th birthday in a small circle

On Friday, Prince Harry released a statement in which he shared his excitement about his 40th birthday. “Bring on the new decade,” said the ex-royal. Harry will celebrate this milestone privately on Sunday with Meghan and their children Archie (5) and Lilibet (3). Afterwards, he is likely planning a weekend trip with his closest friends, Sky News reported.

Read also:

Neither Buckingham nor Kensington Palace have announced whether they will do anything to mark Harry's big birthday. Tensions within the royal family have only increased in the years since Harry and Meghan emigrated to the United States in 2020 to start a new life there.

“Spare” – Harry's memoirs

© Random House Group

×

This is especially true following the publication of Harry's memoir, Spare, in January last year, in which he claims his brother William called Meghan “difficult,” “rude,” and “brusque,” and even accused his older brother of pushing him into a dog bowl.

The latest conflict arose on Monday when a Netflix teaser for a documentary called “Polo” – produced by the Sussexes' production company – was released, just hours after the Princess of Wales shared a video marking the end of her chemotherapy treatment.