Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s camp is hitting back after more than two-year-old allegations resurfaced this week about her bullying members of the royal staff while residing at Kensington Palace.

On Wednesday (March 3), the Duchess’ representatives responded to a report in The Times stating that Markle is “saddened by the latest attack on her character”.

The Times had reported that Markle, wife of Prince Harrry, the Duke of Sussex, ‘humiliated’ her staff and left some ‘reduced to tears’ when she lived at the palace.

The Times also said members of the Royal Family and staff are very concerned about the claims made by former communications secretary to The Duke and Duchess, Jason Knauf.

Knauf had filed a complaint against the Duchess to the Palace’s Human Resources Department in October 2018.

In an email sent to Simon Case, former private secretary to Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and Harry’s older brother, regarding a conversation he had with the head of palace HR, Samantha Carruthers, Knauf wrote: “I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year.”

He said Carruthers, “agreed with me on all counts that the situation was very serious”.

The email further stated that he and Carruthers “have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour”.

‘PROHIBITED FROM DEFENDING HERSELF’

However, no action was taken as a result of the complaint, as Knauf claimed that Prince Harry pleaded with him not to pursue it.

But in July 2020, legal representatives of the Duchess said that she was “prohibited from defending herself” and ‘unprotected by the royal institution’.

Suddenly, all these allegations from three years ago are breaking the internet.

Many are now referring to the Duchess as #VictimOrBully, while others are saying that these new allegations were intended to undermine the upcoming interview with Oprah Winfrey, to be aired on CBS next Sunday (March 7).

According to The Times, the couple’s representatives told the newspaper: “Let’s just call this what it is, a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation. We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.”

The representative continued: “It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining The Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and The Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years. The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

After all, service to others is indeed universal.