Meghan Markle once berated a royal gardener so severely that the late Queen felt compelled to intervene, a royal insider has claimed.
It comes as one of several allegations made against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with claims they have been difficult to work with and have bullied staff members.
Royal historian Hugh Vickers told The Sun he heard from “very good sources” there was “trouble” while Harry and Meghan were living at Frogmore Cottage between 2019 and March 2020.
He recalled an incident where Meghan was “very rude” to one of the under-gardeners at Windsor. When the head gardener reported the matter to the late Queen, she reprimanded Meghan, as she strongly disliked people being rude to staff.
“She probably is not very good with staff or people that she’s employing. It’s just very unattractive,” Mr Vickers added.
“You should always be very polite to people who work for you because otherwise they’re going to get very put out.”
There have been several allegations of bullying and rude behaviour towards royal staff made against Meghan Markle, particularly during her time as a working member of the royal family. These allegations have come from various sources, including former staff members and palace insiders.
In September 2024, an unnamed source told the Sunday Times that they witnessed “people being chewed up in person and over the phone and made to feel like s***”.
In 2018, Jason Knauf, then communications secretary for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, filed a formal complaint alleging that Meghan’s behaviour had led to the departure of two personal assistants and undermined the confidence of a third staff member.
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This complaint became public in 2021, shortly before Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Buckingham Palace subsequently launched an internal investigation, the findings of which were not released to the public.
Earlier this year, a Vanity Fair article reported that Meghan was initially “warm and effusive” with employees, but would turn “cold and withholding toward the person she perceived to be responsible” if something went wrong or failed to meet her or Harry’s expectations.
The Duchess of Sussex has strongly denied allegations of bullying royal staff, with her team describing the claims as part of a “calculated smear campaign.”
A spokesman said in 2021: “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.
“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”
Some staff members have defended Meghan, describing her as a “lovely, genuine person”, disputing the negative portrayals.
Meghan Markle’s team has been contacted for comment.
