Secrets revealed about Meghan Markle’s ‘bloodsoaked earrings’; Oprah could face questioning over bombshell interview
Juicy new details have emerged about jewels gifted to the Duchess from a murder-accused prince, as Oprah’s bombshell interview could face court scrutiny.
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At the height of her popularity, Meghan Markle did many baffling things, one of which was to wear an ostentatious pair of earrings given to her by Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, just days after his regime had admitted to killing and dismembering journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
And during her tour of the South Pacific and Australia, the new Duchess’s behaviour crossed over into bullying, according to a new book by Valentine Low.
The book claims that Markle did not understand the symbolism of accepting the earrings as a gift let alone wearing them, and she did not treat staffers well, despite their efforts to help her in her new role.
Low writes in the Mail On Sunday that during the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand in October 2018, Markle did not understand why she had to shake people’s hands or do ‘walkabouts’, without being paid for her public appearances.
Markle’s staff reportedly heard her say on more than one occasion, “I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.”
The book claims that royal staff bent over backwards to help guide Markle since she had stated she would quit acting to do philanthropic work and support Prince Harry as a working royal.
Trouble allegedly began to brew just a few days after Prince Harry and Markle got married, and Buckingham Palace announced that Samantha Cohen, the Queen’s former assistant private secretary, would be their interim private secretary.
Ms Cohen had been planning to leave after 17 years at the Palace, but the Queen asked her to stay on to help the newlyweds.
Ms Cohen was well regarded by the royals including Princes Harry and William, and so she agreed to stay on to help.
But sources have now revealed Cohen was treated “terribly”.
In autumn 2018, she accompanied the Duke and Duchess on an official trip to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
On the journey from Tonga to Sydney, Cohen was said to have “been screamed at before the flight, and during.”
Sir David Manning, who assisted with royal tours, allegedly reassured Cohen: “You are dealing with a very difficult lady”, referring to Markle.
'She ignored warnings': Saudi victim Khashoggi's lawyer condemns Meghan Markle for wearing earrings from 'murderous' Crown Prince https://t.co/z6hDqnTWaN
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) March 6, 2021
During their tour, the Sussexes spent two days in Fiji and on the first night, at a state dinner, the Duchess wore a striking pair of diamond earrings.
But Kensington Palace refused to reveal the provenance of the jewels, which would become clear two years later.
Low revealed that the chandelier earrings had been a wedding gift from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
On October 2, 2018, dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was murdered and dismembered.
In the lead-up to the Sussexes’ tour, the murder was a major international news story.
Three days before the dinner in Fiji, Saudi Arabia admitted its officials were responsible for Khashoggi’s death.
Low writes that Cohen had told colleagues the earrings had been borrowed from the jeweller Chopard, but this was not true.
Three weeks after Fiji, Meghan wore them to the Prince of Wales’s 70th birthday party at Buckingham Palace.
When the earrings appeared in photos, London staff responsible for registering details of royal gifts alerted Kensington Palace.
A source said: “We made a decision not to confront Meghan and Harry on it, out of fear for what their reaction would be.”
Later, Markle’s lawyers said: “At no stage did the Duchess tell staff that the earrings were ‘borrowed from a jeweller’, as this would have been untrue and therefore any suggestion that she encouraged them to lie to the media is baseless.
“It is possible she said the earrings were borrowed, which is correct, as presents from heads of state to the Royal Family are gifts to Her Majesty the Queen, who can then choose to lend them out to members of the family.”
But Low disputes that claim, as staff would know if they were loaned by the Queen.
Markle’s lawyers also claimed that she had no idea about Prince Mohammed’s suspected involvement in Khashoggi’s murder.
OPRAH COULD BE CALLED IN AS A WITNESS
The bombshell claims come as Oprah Winfrey faces the possibility she may be questioned over the explosive 2021 interview with the couple.
Meghan Markle’s half sister, Samantha Markle, is reportedly wanting to call Oprah as a witness as she tries to sue the Duchess for defamation.
According to The Sun, Samantha is calling on 19 witnesses including Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s mother.
Seeking damages of £60,000 (more than $A100,000), Samantha claims she was defamed by the comments made in the televised interview with Oprah, as well as the book, Finding Freedom.
The Duchess of Sussex’s lawyer, Michael Kump said regarding the book, his client did not write it so she cannot be held liable.
Mr Kump also said the remarks made during the interview with Oprah were protected under the First Amendment.
SUSSEXES REPORTEDLY HOUSE HUNTING
Reports have resurfaced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are quietly shopping around for a new property in California, only three years after paying A$21.8 million for their luxury Montecito compound.
The couple, who have returned to the US after Queen Elizabeth’s death, are rumoured to be shopping around for a new home in the nearby private coastal community of Hope Ranch.
The exclusive 809ha Hope Ranch estate hugs the Santa Barbara coastline and provides residents with access to a private community beach, tennis courts, riding trails, and the La Cumbre Country Club and golf course.
There are only about 700 homes in the estate, and according to the Bartron Real Estate Group, 11 are on the open market for a median list price of A$23.4 million.
The Santa Barbara News-Press reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are keen to move on from their current home as it no long “properly accommodate[s]” them and their two children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1.
The couple bought the Montecito property in 2020 from Russian businessman Sergey Grishin, five months after announcing that they were leaving royal duties. The estate has nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a swimming pool, tennis court, tea house and private playground.
There also is a spa with a dry and wet sauna, a private movie theatre, arcade and games room, a wine cellar and a five-car garage.
It’s not the first time rumours have swirled about the family being in the market for a new home. In January this year, an “exclusive” story in the Sunday Mirror revealed the Sussexes were not “over the moon” with the 3ha estate and were are looking to sell.
According to the Bartron Real Estate Group’s listings for Santa Barbara’s Hope Ranch, they will have a bit to choose from if they haven’t already bought.
At the lowest end of the price spectrum is a four-bedroom house at 710 Monte Dr, offered for sale for the first time ever by the original owners for A$6.9 million.
There is also 4345 Via Glorieta, a “quintessential Santa Barbara style ranch estate” on 4856 sqm, which has a price tag of A$13.9 million.
A cool A$29.5 million will buy a private cliff-front slice of the estate at 1547/1553 Shoreline Dr, which offers a private luxury getaway on two blocks. There are plans and permits for another house and pool on the vacant lot within the compound.
A grand Tuscan-style estate at 4660 Via Huerto, which has a price tag of A$31.2 million.
The estate includes a six-bedroom main house and two-bedroom guesthouse.
The 1.5ha property includes an infinity pool and spa, custom skateboard/scooter track, playing field, fruit tree grove and room for equestrian facilities.
The cream of the crop is a 2.2ha estate set over two blocks, at 4475 Via Abrigada, which has a price tag of A$35.2 million.
The property comes with two homes, guest quarters tennis court and lots more. There is no pool, but plenty of room to put one in.
According to the Barton Real Estate Group it takes about 90 days for a house to sell in Hope Ranch.
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