NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Daniela Elser: Bombshell new report claims Palace insiders viewed Meghan as an 'unhinged sociopath' and certainly not a victim of bullying

By Daniela Elser
news.com.au·
20 Jun, 2021 02:38 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Meghan Markle's staff thought the former actress was a "narcissist and sociopath". Photo / Getty Images

Meghan Markle's staff thought the former actress was a "narcissist and sociopath". Photo / Getty Images

Never let it be said that the Queen is not a consummate performer.

There she was yesterday on the final day of Ascot looking pleased as punch to finally be allowed out of Windsor Castle to enjoy her favourite pastime: Ogling very expensive horses.

Wearing turquoise and a jaunty hat, Her Majesty smiled broadly and was seen laughing (chuckling even!) despite the fact that none of her own gee-gees won a single race.

But if there's one skill the 95-year-old has perfected during her reign it is being able to go out and put on a bobby dazzler of a good show for the public, even when a truly bombshell new report is threatening to overwhelm Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II smiles during day five of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse.

📷Andrew Matthews and David Davies - see more at https://t.co/p2ldFnyWAq#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/0GJL5qB2Nr

— PA Images (@PAImages) June 19, 2021
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Yesterday, the Times published an explosive new report making a series of allegations about Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, including that Kensington Palace staff "thought she was a complete narcissist and sociopath — basically unhinged"; that she had 'humiliated and shouted' at staff; that Prince William had been "horrified" when he was told about Meghan's alleged behaviour and that he wanted the duchess "removed" from the two couples' shared household; and that "William wished to be separated from Meghan on a day-to-day basis."

Think it's been a tumultuous, rocky few months in the royal world? Pah! These incendiary claims have just ratcheted things up, devastatingly.

These new allegations come via veteran British biographer Robert Lacey who also just happens to be the historical consultant for The Crown.

Last year, he published a book about the fallout between Princes William and Harry called Battle of Brothers and now, a new issue of the title is set to be released that includes these and other claims.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In early March, the Times' Valentine Low broke the news that the duchess had faced a bullying claim in 2018.

According to that report, the Cambridges and Sussexes' then joint communications secretary Kensington Palace Jason Knauf had raised the matter of Meghan's alleged treatment of staff, writing in an email to William's private secretary Simon Case, "I'm very concerned that the duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year" and that "The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights."

The Sussex saga continues to cast a long shadow over the Royal Family. Photo / Getty Images
The Sussex saga continues to cast a long shadow over the Royal Family. Photo / Getty Images

A spokesperson for the now California-based duo strenuously denied the claims and said that the couple "were the victims of a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation."

"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."

In the wake of that report, Buckingham Palace announced that they had launched an inquiry, handled by an outside law firm, into the claims.

Then, a week later, came Harry and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey TV interview and their own shocking claims of palace callousness in the face of the duchess' mental health struggles and racism, which basically blew everything out of the water which had come before.

However, this weekend's new reporting has refocused attention on the bullying allegations.

According to Lacey it was the former actress' alleged treatment of staff that sparked the bitter row between William and Harry which caused a deep rift in their relationship and which ultimately triggered the elder prince to "throw Harry out".

Lacey says that it was first in 2017, around when Harry and Meghan got engaged (which was about a year before Knauf wrote to Case) that "a senior aide had spoken to the couple about the difficulties caused by their treatment of staff. 'It's not my job to coddle people,' Meghan was said to have replied."

Palace insiders accused Meghan of mistreating her staff and allege Harry excused her behaviour and even contributed to a toxic culture. Photo / Getty Images
Palace insiders accused Meghan of mistreating her staff and allege Harry excused her behaviour and even contributed to a toxic culture. Photo / Getty Images

"Meghan governed by fear," Lacey quotes one courtier as saying.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"So many people said it. Nothing was ever good enough for her. [She] humiliated staff in meetings, [would] shout at them, [would] cut them off email chains — and then demand to know why they hadn't done anything."

"Meghan portrayed herself as the victim," one Kensington Palace staffer told Lacey, "but she was the bully. People felt run over by her. They didn't know how to handle this woman.

"They thought she was a complete narcissist and sociopath — basically unhinged. Which was why the pair of them were drawn to each other in the first place — both damaged goods."

According to Lacey, "Several people maintained they had been "humiliated" by the duchess, and that criticism extended to Harry as well.

"'I overheard a conversation between Harry and one of his top aides," recalled one Kensington Palace courtier.

"Harry was screaming and screaming down the phone. Team Sussex was a really toxic environment. People shouting and screaming in each other's faces."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

One royal correspondent told the veteran biographer that "[the Cambridges] recognise that [their employees] don't get paid loads of money, so they are just really nice to them. So this was a very deep clash of philosophies, with Meghan being used to a Hollywood service culture — getting exactly what she wanted whenever she wanted in that famous way that Harry said."

William, according to Lacey, "went ballistic when he heard the 'dossier of distress'" and "got straight on the phone to talk to Harry."
After the younger prince "flared up in furious defence of his wife" he turned off his phone, prompting William to go speak to him in person.

"The showdown between the two siblings was fierce and bitter," according to Lacey.
William is reported to have said he thought Meghan had an "agenda" and that "undermining some precious principles of the monarchy, if she really was treating her staff in this way."

Per Lacey's reporting: "Harry, for his part, was equally furious that William should give credence to the accusations against Meghan, and he was fiercely combative in his wife's defence." Afterwards, Harry "solidified his belief that his family were suffering from 'unconscious bias.'"

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

No more crying in the kitchen: 'Tearless' onions launch in NZ - at a cost

07 Jul 06:27 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

My weird week on a Government-prescribed ‘perfect diet’

07 Jul 06:00 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

What makes someone cool? These six traits it seems

07 Jul 01:08 AM

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

No more crying in the kitchen: 'Tearless' onions launch in NZ - at a cost

No more crying in the kitchen: 'Tearless' onions launch in NZ - at a cost

07 Jul 06:27 AM

Tearless onions are now being grown in Auckland and sold nationwide.

Premium
My weird week on a Government-prescribed ‘perfect diet’

My weird week on a Government-prescribed ‘perfect diet’

07 Jul 06:00 AM
Premium
What makes someone cool? These six traits it seems

What makes someone cool? These six traits it seems

07 Jul 01:08 AM
Premium
I thought my stitch was from over-exercising. It turned out to be cancer

I thought my stitch was from over-exercising. It turned out to be cancer

07 Jul 12:25 AM
Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper
sponsored

Sponsored: Why heat pumps make winter cheaper

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP