FRIENDS RUSH TO DEFEND MEGHAN
Speaking out: the Duchess of Sussex’s long-time friend Lindsay Jill Roth, right, today defended Meghan, who is at the centre of a storm over allegations she bullied royal aides, which she denies
FRIENDS of the Duchess of Sussex today rallied to her defence as senior royal aides are reportedly set to be questioned as part of Buckingham Palace’s investigation into allegations of bullying against her.
Her long-time friend Lindsay Jill Roth said “goodwill runs in her bones” adding: “Meg’s M.O. has always been kindness”. The TV producer said: “I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen first-hand how she treats her friends and their families and her colleagues.”
Describing her “altruistic, magnanimous friend”, Ms Roth wrote on Instagram: “She was this woman when we were students together at Northwestern University; she was this woman in Los Angeles when her days were spent auditioning; she was this woman living in Toronto as Rachel Zane on Suits; she was this woman before you knew she was dating Harry; she was this woman after you knew was dating Harry; she was this woman when she became Duchess of Sussex and she is still — without a doubt — this very same woman today.”
The Times today reported that the palace investigation into allegations that Meghan bullied staff will not seek to speak to her or Harry but will question current and former staff, including the couple’s former communications secretary Jason Knauf and their then private secretary Samantha Cohen. It is expected to look at what happened after Mr Knauf complained about Meghan’s behaviour to Simon
Case, who was then private secretary to the Duke of Cambridge but has since moved into government as Cabinet Secretary. Speaking anonymously, another friend of Meghan told Bazaar.com the bullying claims were “an obvious attempt at destroying her character” while a second friend said: “I hate to say it, but find me a woman of colour in a senior position who has not been accused of being too angry, too scary, too whatever in the workplace. It’s sad that it’s happening, but I’m not surprised. These claims are so far from the woman I know.”
The palace is braced for more unwanted publicity as Meghan and Harry’s CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey is due to be broadcast on Sunday night in the United States and on ITV on Monday at 9pm.
Clips released in advance showed Meghan directly accusing “The Firm” of “perpetuating falsehoods” about her and Harry. Omid Scobie, one of the authors of a biography of the couple, today spoke of the “warm” relationship that Harry and Meghan have with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. He told Good Morning Britain: “You know, when Harry and Meghan talk about The Firm, or the institution, they’re not attacking the royal family. They’re talking about the machine of the monarchy, that’s what goes on behind the scenes, and I think any royal family member is able to distinguish the two.”
It comes as Harry’s grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, recovers from a successful procedure for a heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital carried out on Wednesday.
Harry and Meghan quit as senior working royals in March last year and now live with their son Archie in California. Harry has previously said the decision was taken to protect himself and his family from the press.