Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: Claims anxious staff ‘felt sick’ as ‘loyalty tests’ carried out

Meghan Markle’s anxious courtiers were allegedly given “loyalty tests”, as Netflix refuses Prince Harry’s attempts to “walk back” criticism of the royals.

Anxious royal staff reported “feeling sick” before taking part in work with the Sussexes, royal author Valentine Low has claimed.

Staff were apparently wracked by nerves and some were even left “shaking” ahead of meetings with Meghan Markle, according to The Times’ royal correspondent.

More claims have emerged about how royal staff were allegedly treated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Picture: AFP

Low made the claims during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, saying a “paranoid” Prince Harry would carry out “loyalty tests” on Palace staff to check if they were still “fighting for him”.

In his book Courtiers: the Hidden Power Behind the Crown, Low wrote that the Duke of Sussex would look for signs of what he dubbed “the Palace syndrome” which showed staff had become “institutionalised” within the royal household.

Meghan Markle was labelled a “narcissistic sociopath” by staff, royal author Valentine Low claims. Picture: Getty Images

Staff who worked under the Duke and Duchess reportedly called themselves the “Sussex Survivors’ Club”. Picture: AFP

The journalist told the morning show on Britain’s ITV how palace staff who worked under Prince Harry and Meghan Markle called themselves the “Sussex Survivors’ Club”.

The claim was made in his new book, quoting royal sources, who also alleged that staff members labelled Markle a “narcissistic sociopath” and repeatedly said they felt like they “were played”.

Staff allegedly felt “sick” when they had to deal with Meghan Markle. Picture: AFP

Asked by Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid whether staff had created a group called the “Sussex Survivors Club”, Low replied: “Absolutely, yes.”

Reid replied: “What did they survive?”.

Mr Low said: ‘I think it was a very difficult experience for some of them.

“As I revealed last year, there were allegations that Meghan bullied staff. People talked to me of people being completely destroyed.

“I’ve heard people at the time, faced with a possible encounter with Meghan, were saying things like ‘I feel sick’ or ‘I’m shaking’ — extraordinary things for an employee to say about the prospect of seeing their employer in half-an-hour.”

King Charles III with Prince Harry on the day of the Queen’s funeral. Picture: AFP

Low, however, said courtiers were in some way responsible for the couple’s acrimonious Megxit split from frontline royal duties in January 2020.

He said: “There is a way in which the courtiers are to blame. So the people around them were doing their best, these were people who believed in Harry and Meghan and they wanted to help.”

HARRY’S PANIC OVER NETFLIX

It comes amid claims the House of Sussex has reportedly been left in a “panic” after Netflix refused to “tone down” their upcoming docuseries following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The pair have even clashed with their own production team in the attempt to “walk back” allegations against the royal family in the wake of the Queen’s death, according to Netflix sources.

“Harry and Meghan are having second thoughts on their own story, on their own project,” the Netflix source told NYP.

“They’ve made significant requests to walk back content they themselves have provided - to the extent that some Netflix staff believe, if granted, it will effectively shelve the project indefinitely.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Westminster Hall. Picture: AFP

It is the latest project the couple is reportedly attempting to water down, with Prince Harry scrambling to rewrite sections of his memoir and potentially delay publication.

Another source at Netflix added to Page Six that the couple wants large chunks removed from the documentary, which has been in production over the final year of the Queen’s life.

But Netflix is “standing by the filmmakers”, led by Oscar-nominated director Liz Garbus, and is said to be standing firm on keeping the content “from their own mouths”.

“Harry and Meghan are panicked about trying to tone down even the most basic language. But it’s their story,” the source said, adding that they started rethinking the show before the former monarch died on September 8.

The ‘Fab Four’ will feature in the upcoming Netflix doco. Picture: AFP

The documentary is said to include revelations about Prince Harry’s father, then-Prince Charles, who has since become King, and Camilla, now the Queen Consort. Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, are also reportedly in the crosshairs.

“Netflix has made it clear that the project is going forward,” the source said.

While Netflix is standing by the filmmakers, Prince Harry and Markle still have final edit rights along with Netflix, according to the source.

Originally published as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: Claims anxious staff ‘felt sick’ as ‘loyalty tests’ carried out