Royal aides ‘incandescent’ at Meghan Markle ‘smear’ claims in all-out Palace war

The war of words between Buckingham Palace and Meghan Markle appears to have escalated after reports royal aides were “incandescent” with rage.

It comes after a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex accused her former staff of a “smear campaign” in the ongoing row over alleged bullying of royal aides.

A senior palace source told MirrorOnline : “We have not been briefing around the Oprah Winfrey programme or anything to do with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at all.

“It is totally disingenuous, frankly ludicrous and wholly untrue to suggest anyone at the Palace has been peddling disinformation and has been briefing on these matters.

“There are far, far more important things going on right now than the circus surrounding a media appearance.

“To be accused by lawyers of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is astonishing.”

The Queen has ordered an investigation following a report of claims Meghan bullied her staff while she was a working royal after a former aide accused the actress of “emotional cruelty and manipulation”.

A probe, launched while Prince Philip remains in hospital, will examine “the circumstances” of a complaint originally made about the Duchess in 2018 by one of her closest advisers.

According to The Times, Jason Knauf, then the Sussexes’ communications secretary, claimed Meghan “drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member”.

But Meghan’s lawyers hit back with their own statement ahead of hers and Harry’s interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey, due to be broadcast on Sunday.

The Queen is believed to have demanded urgent action in a meeting on Wednesday with her most trusted advisers.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“Accordingly our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article.

“Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned.

“The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”

A spokesperson for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry has been approached for comment.

It comes as a former staff member claims Meghan snapped at a senior aide in a confrontation at Buckingham Palace.

Meghan is reported to have said: “It’s not my job to coddle people,” when asked about her behaviour.