As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle slowly mend fences with the Royal Family, another story quietly lingers in the background—one that may never be patched up.
For the staff who once worked under the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their royal stint, the resentment still runs deep.
Known informally as the “Sussex Survivors’ Club,” these former aides claim their time with the couple left emotional scars—and it wasn’t just about palace politics.
It was about being caught in the middle of a public narrative war that played out globally.
Accusations, Claims, and the Oprah Aftershock
Things took a dramatic turn in 2021 when Meghan spoke candidly to Oprah Winfrey.
During the headline-making interview, she revealed that there was a period when she felt so unsupported by the Royal Family that she didn’t want to live anymore.
In response, palace officials scrambled to compile proof they had provided the Sussexes with adequate care.
Key players—like Samantha Cohen (a senior aide), Sir Edward Young (the Queen’s private secretary), and Sir Clive Alderton (now King Charles’s private secretary)—gathered evidence to counter any accusations of neglect.
But royal biographer Valentine Low noted something deeper.
According to him, Meghan had already started creating a “trail of evidence” to ensure she could later show the world how she was failed by the monarchy.
When HR Wasn’t Enough and Allegations Began to Surface
At one point, Meghan reportedly went to the palace’s HR department seeking help.
While she was listened to with sympathy, she was ultimately told the department dealt with employees—not members of the Royal Family.
At the same time, serious allegations were starting to bubble up behind palace walls.
According to Cohen—nicknamed “Samantha the Panther”—she was one of ten staff members interviewed after reports of bullying by Meghan emerged in 2018.
The Narrative Battle: Mental Health vs Staff Mistreatment
Valentine Low writes that Meghan “hijacked the narrative” by publicly focusing on her mental health struggles, making it difficult for staff to share their side.
Royal aides felt their efforts were erased from the public view, and their alleged mistreatment was left unacknowledged.
The Oprah interview added fuel to the fire.
Along with mental health claims, Meghan and Harry also accused an unnamed member of the Royal Family of expressing concern over how dark their baby Archie’s skin might be.
The allegations shocked the world. Meghan recalled these conversations vividly, and Harry confirmed he had been part of them.
That moment became one of the most controversial in royal interview history.
Meghan’s Treatment of Staff Draws Scrutiny
Back in 2018, Jason Knauf—once one of Harry and Meghan’s closest aides—sent an internal email raising the alarm.
He claimed Meghan bullied two personal assistants and described a pattern where she always had someone “in her sights.”
The situation rattled Prince William, who reportedly received what was described as a “dossier of distress.”
According to author Robert Lacey, William was stunned and furious, especially since he knew many of the staff personally and believed in treating them like family.
Tensions with the Media Go Back Years
Meghan’s reputation for being “difficult to work with” hasn’t only followed her in royal circles.
Her media interactions have also come under the microscope.
In 2017—before her engagement—she appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Then-editor Graydon Carter later claimed Meghan challenged a journalist who asked about her relationship with Prince Harry, asking, “Is this going to all be about him?” instead of focusing on her philanthropy.
Carter admitted at the time he had “no idea” who Meghan was, and later described her as “slightly adrift on the facts and reality.”
The Vogue Cover Controversy and Clashes With Anna Wintour
Years later, Meghan made waves when she guest-edited British Vogue’s Forces for Change issue in 2019.
It became the fastest-selling issue in the magazine’s history—but critics questioned why Queen Elizabeth wasn’t featured among the 15 women chosen for the cover.
By 2022, tensions with Vogue reached a breaking point.
Meghan was scheduled to be on the cover again, coinciding with her speech at the One Young World Summit.
But insiders revealed that Meghan’s team pushed too hard on the editorial process—choosing straplines, requesting control over the narrative, and more.
That level of micromanagement reportedly frustrated legendary editor Anna Wintour, who eventually pulled the plug on the cover entirely.
A source summed it up bluntly: “She’s not Beyoncé.”
A Strained Friendship and Fallout at Vogue
According to reports, the situation also damaged Meghan’s relationship with British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, who was said to be “furious” the issue was scrapped.
Staff at Condé Nast, Vogue’s parent company, were equally disappointed.
Though Meghan was apparently unfazed by the change, her team had “high expectations” that the magazine couldn’t meet.
And when Anna Wintour stepped in, it was game over.
Conflicting Accounts: Difficult Diva or Misunderstood Duchess?
While many sources have painted Meghan as controlling and demanding, others have come to her defense.
Podcast producer and journalist Jane Marie, who worked with the couple on their Archewell Audio projects, told Vanity Fair that Meghan was “lovely and genuine.”
Some staff even claimed she gave out thoughtful gifts like skincare sets and dog leashes.
Still, one insider who worked with Meghan before her royal wedding put it this way: “She’s lovely when everything goes her way—but a demon when the worm turns.”
Meghan Denies It All—and Calls It a Smear Campaign
Throughout it all, Meghan has consistently denied the bullying allegations, saying they’re part of a “coordinated smear campaign” to tarnish her image.
What’s left is a swirl of competing narratives: a woman who says she was failed by the institution, and a group of former staff who say they were left bruised and silenced by her behavior.
And while relations between Meghan, Harry, and the Royal Family may be improving on the surface, the lingering tension behind the scenes—especially from those who worked closest with them—suggests some rifts may never fully heal.