The headlines surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for weeks have not been good. After being slammed for going beyond the yellow tape in towns where they do not own any property and touring neighborhoods in Los Angeles devastated by the wildfires, the duke and duchess’s former employees had a lot to say about them as part of a Vanity Fair feature.
The story titled “Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Big Business Ambitions, 5 Years After Their Royal Exit” takes a deep dive into the Sussexes’ lives since moving to America. For the piece, the publication spoke to dozens of people who know Meghan and Harry and many of them didn’t have glowing reviews about the pair.
Some who live near the couple in Montecito have dubbed them “local villains.” And remember all those previous allegations that Meghan “bullies” her staffers and barks out orders like a “dictator in high heels” who has “psycho moments?” Well more ex-employees have come forward alleging similar experiences about working with her.
We’ve heard that Harry is “shell-shocked” and Meghan is “devastated” by the accusations in the story. But what about members of the royal family who Meghan and Harry leveled plenty of allegations against since moving stateside? Well their sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, feels “vindicated” and she’s not the only one.
Kate ‘absolutely does feels vindicated’ now
For its February 2025 cover story, Vanity Fair talked to several employees who alleged that working for Meghan was “really, really, really awful. Very painful. Because she’s constantly playing checkers–I’m not even going to say chess–but she’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment.”
Another former colleague, reportedly part of Meghan’s team when she did her Archetypes Spotify podcast, revealed they had to take a “leave of absence after working on three episodes.” And others claimed that they too had to take “breaks from work to escape scrutiny,” leave their job altogether, or undergo “long-term therapy” after having the duchess as a boss.
These claims made international headlines and were of course seen by the royals on the other side of the pond. An insider revealed to Closer that “everyone in the Palace has been talking about Meghan and Harry after they received such a damaging profile in Vanity Fair — which is shocking all around.
“Kate has had the toughest year of her life, which has put everything into perspective. The truth is she’s done with the drama with Harry and Meghan and is determined to go about her life without being involved. But does she feel vindicated? Absolutely!”
Who else feels ‘vindicated’ following the scathing report about the Sussexes
And Kate’s not the only one who feels “vindicated” these days. Following the publication of the Vanity Fair piece, some of Meghan’s former employees shared how they’re feeling now that their stories are out there.
One person who used to work for Meghan told the Daily Beast: “I feel desperately sorry for the people affected because I have been there, but I also feel vindicated.”
And another former staffer offered advice for anyone thinking about working with Prince Harry’s wife saying: “It’s obviously very tempting to work for her when you are being wooed and love-bombed, but people should be in no doubt; she is a nightmare. I would think the atmosphere will be particularly hellish now everything is going to s***. She doesn’t do disappointment well.”
