A staffer working “high up” for the Sussexes claimed “everyone is terrified” of the Duchess – while claims continue to build that the Duke is keen on a UK return.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to the US to gain freedom from the Firm
A Sussex staffer claims Meghan was nicknamed ‘Duchess Difficult’
Royal historian Hugo Vickers spoke exclusively to The Sun
The allegations were made in The Hollywood Reporter, with an insider alleging Meghan is branded by staff as “Duchess Difficult” and a “dictator in high heels”.
Sources close to the couple rejected the claims, describing them as false and one-sided.
Royal historian Hugo Vickers told The Sun the US celebrity industry is a “high energy, competitive world”, and he believes the couple may have underestimated the stresses involved.
He said: “I think there have always been a certain number of cracks developing.
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“Obviously, they had quite a good time at the beginning. But the trouble is, it is this high energy, competitive world in which they now exist which is very, very hard to deal with.
“And I’m sure she’s had a certain amount of experience of this. I’m not sure how much experience Prince Harry had of it.”
Mr Vickers said “Duchess Difficult does ring true” due to claims about Meghan’s treatment of Windsor staff even irking the late Queen.
“The Queen didn’t like people being rude to staff,” he said.
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The claims of bullying were strongly denied at the time.
Referring to the Sussexes’ attitude towards their staff now, after some came forward in a US Weekly article defending the couple, he went on to say: “I’m sure that it’s one of those situations where, probably, when things are going well they’re very generous… and they remember their birthdays, and they send them little gifts and all that sort of stuff, but the moment things get stressful, that’s when you see the true side.
“I’m afraid I rather veer on the side of thinking that she’s difficult, and it’s not a good sign if you can’t be good with your staff, you know you’re in trouble.”
The Sussexes have seen nine of their staff leave since they relocated to California in July 2020, just months after stepping down as working royals.
Among the high profile departures was their chief of staff, Josh Kettler earlier this summer.
A seasoned PR guru, Mr Kettler joined Meghan and Harry just before their three-day ‘faux royal’ trip to Nigeria in May, and quit just three months into the job, days before their tour of Colombia.
They have also had a string of high profile business flops, including their $20 million Spotify deal being cancelled last summer because the couple didn’t meet the “productivity benchmarks” required.
Harry & Meg’s business flops
Despite the relentless media coverage and hype generated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle through their projects, some ventures haven’t gone as well as others.
Meghan had her upcoming animated series Pearl chucked out by Netflix while in the development stage.
Then 42-year-old was said to have been “uncharacteristically quiet” following the loss of her £18million Spotify deal in June last year.
While Spare initially sold a staggering number of copies demand soon dwindled and a year on its popularity has plummeted with major retailers slashing prices in half.
The pair were poked fun at by comedian Jo Koy at the Golden Globes for “being paid millions by Netflix for doing nothing”.
Harry’s series, Heart of Invictus, shedding light on the Olympic-style games he started for wounded ex-service competitors also flopped.
Archewell figures in December last year revealed a hole in the accounts after it received almost £9million less in donations than in a previous year.
Mr Vickers said: “It does seem to be one thing after another, doesn’t it?
“There seem to be endless problems, little ones, but they all add up to probably quite a big problem, which is what is the sense of direction?
“How are they going to keep going? How are they going to finance their very expensive lifestyle? What can they contribute?
“What can they offer working outside the system? We know exactly how they could have dealt with the various issues and what they could have offered within the Commonwealth.”
Mr Vickers said he believes for them to continue to stay afloat in the US it’ll be “extremely difficult” long term, and they can never get away from their royal roots.
“They rely very much on the fact they use their titles. I mean Duke of Sussex, Duchess of Sussex. The fact he’s Prince Harry.
“That’s why we talk about him. I mean, there are lots of Hollywood stars, people doing extraordinary projects, and we don’t talk about them in the same sort of way.
“It’s because it’s rather interesting that you know that there’s Prince Harry outside his comfort zone.
“I suppose that’s why people are interested in the whole saga and the fact that they’re trying to go it alone.
“I’ve always thought it would end badly. I don’t wish them ill, but I just don’t see how it can work in the end because it’s all relying on a celebrity culture.
“Then they’ve got to have a lot to offer, and I don’t see what else they’ve got to offer at this point that’s going to be new and stimulating and valuable for other people.
“But that may be just me being cynical.”
The Sun has contacted the Sussexes’ representatives.
Mr Vickers believes there seems to be a lot of mounting issues for the Sussexes in the US
Reports claim Harry is keen for a path back to the UK
