Prince Harry ‘slammed’ phone on William over Meghan Markle’s ‘bullying’
Private emails reveal the brothers’ fallout over explosive bullying claims from ‘The Sussex Survivors’ Club’, with Meghan allegedly making one staff member feel physically ‘sick’.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prince Harry is said to have slammed down the phone on his brother when confronted with evidence of his wife’s bullying, according to a new documentary.
The explosive argument between the once-close brothers erupted after Prince William called to discuss Meghan’s behaviour, according to a French TV series being released next week.
Harry reportedly shunned his older brother and refused to hear his concerns before choosing to defend his wife and abruptly hang up the phone before William read out witness statements.
Traumatised staff that resigned from the Royal Household even set up a WhatsApp chat group named “The Sussex Survivors’ Club”, according to the documentary.
William allegedly became so angry at Harry for protecting Meghan from criticism that the Duke of Cambridge jumped in a car “towards Kensington Palace to go and confront Prince Harry”.
The claims are contained in emails, disclosed as part of the Duchess of Sussex’s privacy claim against the Mail on Sunday, obtained and displayed on BFM TV in its upcoming documentary, Red Line: William and Harry, the enemy brothers.
Royal sources said William became enraged by the phone call, according to the documentary to be released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death in a Paris car crash.
The series lays the blame for the split in the relationship of the two brothers on Meghan, saying her behaviour was “at the heart of the break-up between William and Harry”.
“William, who already didn’t like his sister-in-law very much, became furious. He called Harry directly, and Harry slammed the phone down,” said Royal author Pierrick Geais.
“Harry didn’t want to know anything, and so William jumped in a car towards Kensington Palace, where he was going to confront Prince Harry.”
To support its claims of Meghan’s “bullying and harassing”, the documentary features emails from Jason Knauf, former communications secretary to the Sussexes, written to Simon Case, William’s then private secretary.
A 2018 email claimed Meghan had “bullied” two female personal assistants “out of the Household”, referring to one of the staff members as Y.
“The Duchess seems intent on always having someone as a target. She’s bullying Y, and seeking to undermine her confidence... we have had report after report from people who have been witnessing this unacceptable behaviour towards Y.” the email said.
“I am very concerned that the Duchess had been bullying and harassing two personal assistants, to the extent that she provoked their resignation during the course of the last year.”
The documentary said there was a “spate” of resignations in 2018 from Meghan’s team, with some of the members of the “Sussex Survivors’ Club” remaining “traumatised” to this day.
One was so afraid she felt physically ill by the prospect of talking to Meghan, The Times Royal correspondent, Valentine Low, says in the documentary:
“There was a person who was so terrified by a conversation she was about to have with Meghan that she said, ‘I feel sick’. Some of these young women have been broken,” Ms Low said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to visit the UK in September for a “female empowerment” conference in Manchester. The brothers are yet to announce official plans to meet.
More Coverage
Originally published as Prince Harry ‘slammed’ phone on William over Meghan Markle’s ‘bullying’
Massive royal scandal erupts
The fresh allegations are the latest in a scandalous saga involving the royal, with cops obtaining video of the claimed attack.
Loved-up royals share smoochy photos
Meghan Markle has posted an intimate photo with a touching message to Prince Harry while the Prince and Princess of Wales share their own ‘kissing photo’ in a rare show of public affection.