Daily Mail

Good will runs in her bones, say her loyal pals as Team Sussex chips in

- By Royal Editor

‘TEAM Meghan’ swung into action yesterday to defend the Duchess of Sussex after accusation­s of workplace bullying.

In what appeared to be a coordinate­d effort, friends and former media colleagues hit back at claims she had ‘driven out’ two PAs with her behaviour and was targeting other members of staff.

One confidante said ‘goodwill runs in her bones’, while another said she deserved ‘the benefit of the doubt’. Their interventi­on intensifie­s the already febrile and toxic atmosphere around Meghan’s decision to give a bombshell interview to Oprah Winfrey, pitting her firmly against the Royal Family.

The duchess’s cheerleade­rs were led by her former co-star on TV show Suits – Patrick J Adams – who launched an extraordin­ary rant on Twitter lambasting the Royal Family.

Adams described his friend as an ‘enthusiast­ic, kind, cooperativ­e, giving, joyful and supportive member of our television family’.

He said: ‘It’s obscene that the Royal Family... is promoting and amplifying accusation­s of “bullying” against a woman who herself was basically forced to flea [sic] the UK in order to protect her family and her own mental health.

‘This newest chapter and its timing is just another stunning example of the shamelessn­ess of a institutio­n that has outlived its relevance, is way overdrawn on credibilit­y and apparently bankrupt of decency. Find someone else to admonish, berate and torment. My friend Meghan is way out of your league.’

Support also came from US TV producer and author Lindsay Roth, a friend of Meghan’s for more than two decades.

She posted two unseen pictures of her friend, whom she met at university, with a lengthy

eulogy. She wrote: ‘Meg’s MO [modus operandi] has always been kindness; goodwill runs in her bones. I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen firsthand how she treats her friends and their families, and her colleagues.’

And Suits writer Jon Cowan said: ‘Having spent three years working with her in her pre-duchess days, I saw a warm, kind, caring person.

‘I know nothing of her current situation but she gets the benefit of the doubt in my book.’

Many of those fighting Meghan’s corner highlighte­d what they claimed was the ‘hypocrisy’ of Buckingham Palace launching a formal investigat­ion into the bullying claims against her while failing to take any action against beleaguere­d Prince Andrew.

He was forced to ‘temporaril­y’ stand down from royal duties in 201 over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, leading many of the charities he supported to desert him. But has not yet been formally stripped of his patronages by the Queen and his uncertain status within the family remains something of a running sore.

 ?? ?? Co-stars: With Patrick J Adams
Co-stars: With Patrick J Adams
 ?? ?? Close: Meghan and Lindsay Roth
Close: Meghan and Lindsay Roth

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