The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has faced a challenging week in the US media, with a former staff member anonymously criticising her treatment of employees, labelling her “Duchess Difficult” and alleging that she left some in tears.
However, following these claims of a toxic work environment in the Hollywood Reporter, numerous former employees of the Duke and Duchess have come forward to publicly defend Harry and Meghan. Despite reports of dramatic staff departures, many have described the Royal couple as kind and caring towards their employees.
Josh Kettler, Prince Harry’s former chief of staff, who sparked speculation with his sudden exit before the couple’s “quasi-royal” tour of Colombia, has broken his silence to counter the anonymous “Duchess Difficult” accusation. Speaking to US Weekly, Kettler defended his former employers, describing them as “dedicated and hardworking.”
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He recalled being “warmly welcomed” by Harry and Meghan when he joined their team. His sentiments were echoed by Ben Browning, former head of content at Archewell Productions, the company behind the couple’s Netflix documentary.
The Mail has highlighted that former employee Browning, who departed prior to his contract’s conclusion, described the company ambiance as “positive and supportive,” Ashley Hansen, the current ‘Global Press Secretary’, added praise for the Sussexes amidst attempts to counter claims that Meghan is a challenging boss, including descriptions of her as a “dictator in high heels.”, reports the Mirror.
Hansen enthused about the personal attention the Duke and Duchess showed when she was recovering from surgery, saying they exhibited “the kind of concern and care a parent would express if it were their own child,” while lavishing her with flowers and presents, as per her statements to the press.
In what appears to be a concerted effort by US media to bolster the couple’s image, there have been mentions that Harry and Meghan have handed down their Royal children’s outgrown attire to employees along with “care packages.”
Further illustrating the supportive work environment, the current press officer recalled, “Meghan would personally reach out to my husband daily to make sure that we both were OK and had support. It meant so much to him and even more to me. You don’t realise how much that kind of kindness and thought means until you need it.”
In an ongoing push to shift public perception following weeks of rumours about high turnover amongst their staff, unnamed sources expressed that upon adopting a dog, they were surprised with lavish dog treats and a collar, with other receiving “unused car seats and baby items they no longer need.”
Concerns have been raised about the contents of Harry and Meghan’s pantry after an employee revealed that the Duke and Duchess often gift food and flowers to staff visiting their California home. The employee didn’t hold back on praise, saying they were the “best bosses” and shared that “Whenever staff goes to their house, they leave with a basket with fresh flowers, fresh fruit, fresh eggs.”