A PALACE aide at the centre of the Meghan Markle bullying scandal has finally broken his silence.

Jason Knauf – who previously worked for Prince William and Princess Kate for seven years – says he “wouldn’t change anything”.

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Meghan Markle and Prince HarryCredit: Getty

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Jason Knauf speaking to 60 Minutes Australia todayCredit: 60 Minutes Australia

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Knauf worked for the Waleses until 2021Credit: PA
Speaking to 60 Minutes Australia today, he reflected on the intense scrutiny he faced after an internal email he wrote about Meghan was leaked to the media.

He had sent the message in 2018 raising concerns about the Duchess of Sussex’s alleged treatment of staff.

It was made public three years later ahead of Meg and Prince Harry’s controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey during which it was claimed racist remarks were made about the then-unborn Prince Archie.

Meghan strongly denied the claims, labelling them as part of a smear campaign.

Referring to the attention he received at the time, Mr Knauf said: “I think it, it’s tough, but it’s probably quite good.

“You know someone who has been helping other people through how to deal with the public eye. You probably had to take your own medicine sometimes.”

He continued: “You can’t choose just to take the fun stuff in any job. And that applies to the Prince and Princess as well as everyone else working for them. So I wouldn’t change anything.”

Mr Knauf doubled down on whether he had any regrets, saying “no” and adding in such a role you have to “take everything that comes with it”.

And despite the scandal, he went on to speak warmly of Meghan and Harry, saying he had “lots of great times” with the pair while working closely with them, including on their wedding.

It comes after Mr Knauf revealed the devastating phone call in which William was told Kate and King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer weeks apart.

He said the future monarch experienced his lowest moment last year.

Kate announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 in an emotional video released by Kensington Palace.

The previous month, Charles had confirmed he had also been diagnosed with a form of the disease following a hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement.

Mr Knauf went on to say matters were made worse for William – who shares children George, Charlotte and Louis with Kate – due to the “crazy” conspiracy theories about the Princess’ withdrawal from public life.

At the time of her announcement, Kate was said to be recovering after treatment in hospital in January, and hadn’t been seen in public since the previous Christmas.

Days before a scandal erupted after the Palace released an official photo of the royal and her kids, which was pulled by agencies, including Reuters, Getty and Associated Press, over concerns it had been heavily doctored.

This was later admitted by the Firm, with Kate forced to take the blame.

It led to fans online questioning where she was and if she was genuinely ill.

He added that the couple have always had their children’s best interests at throughout Kate’s health battle.

He said they were clear “they had to be parents first” when planning out the year.

HONOURS LIST

Mr Knauf was recognised in the New Year’s Honours list in 2023 for his service to the monarchy.

He was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) after more than seven years with the Firm.

Mr Knauf began his career as joint communications secretary for the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Harry and Meghan before becoming a senior adviser for just Wills and Kate.

He was later made chief executive of the Royal Foundation – the charitable arm of their official operations – before stepping down at the end of 2021.

When working for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in October 2018, Mr Knauf raised concerns about the way Meghan was treating junior staff.

He emailed William’s then-private secretary in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect its workers.