Following the statement from Samantha Cohen, a former aide to Meghan Markle, royal expert Tom Bower anticipates more revelations regarding allegations of bullying against the Duchess of Sussex.
Cohen confirmed her involvement in Buckingham Palace’s investigation into the accusations, corroborating the experiences of ten other royal staffers. Markle has been accused of creating a toxic work environment in the past.
Cohen joined the royal household in 2001 as assistant communications secretary to Queen Elizabeth and subsequently became her assistant private secretary. She was appointed private secretary to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, a position she relinquished shortly after.
Bower believes that within six months, Cohen grew frustrated due to Meghan’s disregard for royal protocol. He suggests that Cohen’s team perceived this as irresponsible self-indulgence, leading to a cultural clash between the two parties.
Cohen’s recent statements to the Herald Sun align with those made in Valentine Low’s book, ‘Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown.’ She described feeling mistreated and likened working with Meghan to interacting with teenagers.
In 2018, Jason Knauf, Kensington Palace’s communications secretary, raised concerns about Meghan’s treatment of staff in an email to Prince William’s private secretary. Staffers reported feeling unwell, terrified, and unable to control their trembling after interactions with the Duchess.
Despite Meghan’s claims of innocence, Bower maintains that the private nature of the Palace’s final report conceals a growing sense of concern and personal animosity within the royal ranks.
Bower concludes that Cohen’s decision to speak out has broken the silence surrounding the allegations and anticipates further revelations in the near future.
