Latest news with #Courtiers:TheHiddenPowerBehindtheCrown
New York Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Why Meghan Markle's ‘fragile' employees waited years to accuse her of bullying
Nobody wants the wrath of 'Duchess Difficult.' Former The Times royal correspondent Valentine Low explained why Meghan Markle's former staffers waited years before they accused her of bullying in Low's 2022 book 'Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown' 'There was strong elements of nervousness and worry,' Low stated on Kinsley Schofield's 'Unfiltered' podcast last week. 'Some of them were still in a very fragile state.' 7 Meghan Markle. / The author added that Markle's employees 'were very worried about what Meghan would do to them' and 'viewed her capacity for revenge as infinite.' 'It was two and a half years later. They'd left the employ of the Royal Family and they still were in a psychologically delicate state as a result of what happened to them at that time,' Low also said. 7 Valentine Low. In addition, Low claimed that the staffers didn't want to be in the spotlight because of their allegations against Markle, 44. 'They are happy leading their new lives, doing whatever new job it is they do. They don't want the media on their doorstep,' he said. 'They don't want to have a target on them.' 7 Valentine Low's book that came out in 2022. St. Martins Press In his book, Low published anonymous staffers' claims about the alleged abuse they suffered working under the 'Suits' alum. The ex-employees claimed Markle — who they referred to as a 'narcissistic sociopath' — went on screaming tirades. On the podcast, Low noted that if Markle and Prince Harry 'were difficult to work for then, they're difficult to work for now.' 7 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day in May 2018. Getty Images He also recalled how the couple's legal team allegedly reacted to the book being published in 2022. 'We got a very, very long letter from their lawyers. And then sometime later we got another slightly less long letter from their lawyers, basically being very feisty, very strong,' Low said, adding, 'We published, and then we didn't hear a word from them.' 7 Meghan Markle speaks onstage at The Archewell Foundation Parents Summit: Mental Wellness event in NYC in Oct. 2023. Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds Low also stated: 'If the Times runs a story like that, and doesn't get sued, there probably something in it. And suddenly you realize all those tabloid stories earlier suggesting she might be the 'Duchess Difficult,' actually maybe they're true.' Markle's spokesperson told The Post that Low is blasting 'harmful gossip' and 'continues to desperately recycle false, offensive, and long-discredited allegations in an apparent bid to sell books and resuscitate relevance.' 7 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left the royal family in 2020. / 'These claims—rooted in anonymous, unverifiable sources—form part of a broader and deeply troubling agenda that seeks to dehumanize a woman who has consistently stood up for fairness, dignity, and truth,' the rep continued. 'The Duchess has faced years of unfounded attacks masked as journalism in a never-ending smear campaign, beginning only once she was affiliated with the remains undeterred by the noise and firmly focused on her family and work,' the spokesperson added. 7 Meghan Markle with Prince Harry. Instagram/@meghan Markle was in the royal family from 2018 until 2020 when she and Harry, 40, quit their royal duties and moved to America. The mother of two faced other bullying accusations from some of her former staffers — who dubbed Markle a ''Mean Girls' teenager' — in a Vanity Fair report that came out in January. Last year, a report from the Hollywood Reporter claimed Markle instills fear in her staff, with one insider describing her as a 'dictator in high heels' who has reduced 'grown men to tears.' Markle's team has denied all bullying claims.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Sick' King Charles Faces Devastating News Amid Reports He ‘Refused' Chemotherapy
King Charles' former confidant has passed away. The Monarch hired an honorable British man to be his secretary when he was the Prince of Wales, however the aide resigned shortly after given the job. One of King Charles' closest aides, Major General Sir Christopher Airy died on April 7, 2025. He became Charles' private secretary n 1990, and his then-wife, Princess Diana. He served for less than a year, and was reportedly a 'very bad fit' for the role, and operated 'completely on a different planet.' More from StyleCaster Prince William Just Took One of Charles' Remaining Jobs After Reports He's Becoming King 'Earlier Than Expected' King Charles Sends Telling Sign He'll Never Reconcile With Harry Amid Reports His Son Is Making His Final Years a 'Misery' 'He was not attuned to Charles' growing charitable interests and struggle to understand the differences between the prince's various organisations,' the insider told royal expert Valentine Low for her book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown. They also added that Charles 'must have been miserable. We would all talk acronyms, all this charitable, voluntary sector, government stuff, and Christopher was completely lost.'The news comes after a royal aide disclosed a health update for King Charles. He is dealing 'incredibly well' with cancer, the anonymous aide told The Telegraph. 'The thing you learn about this illness is that you just manage it and that's what he does. Medical science has made incredible advances and I genuinely see no difference in him. As long as you just do what the doctors say, just live your life as normal as possible… that's exactly what he is doing.'They also revealed that the Monarch 'has dealt with his illness in a very human way, and the way he's engaging with the public at a very human level. I think we now have a clear idea of what the Carolean age looks like and what it stands for – now and hopefully for many years to come.' Another source said that Charles was experiencing the total opposite of that amid the news that Prince Harry revealed that his doesn't talk to him anymore. 'Charles is indeed a sick man, and he does have cancer,' an insider told NewsNationNow. 'He also refused chemotherapy and decided on a less invasive treatment. While Harry and his dad aren't speaking, Harry would be aware of all of this via back channels.' 'Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has,' the Duke of Sussex said in an interview with the BBC. 'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.' He also added that his father should be open to reconciliation and help solve his security problem. 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands,' he said. 'Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him. Not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts do what is necessary.' Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Princess Diana and King Charles' Former Palace Aide, Who Served Less Than a Year, Dies at 91
Sir Christopher Airy, a decorated veteran of the British Army and former royal aide, died on April 7 Airy was appointed private secretary to King Charles and his then-wife Princess Diana in 1990 However, he found. himself unsuited for the role and left just a year later Major General Sir Christopher Airy, a former private secretary to King Charles and Princess Diana, died on April 7, 2025. He was 91. A decorated veteran of the British Army, Airy joined the military in 1954, rising through the ranks until he became Major-General commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District in 1986. Upon his retirement from the military in 1989, Airy was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, having previously received the Order of the British Empire. He also received a new assignment in 1990, becoming the private secretary to King Charles — then, the Prince of Wales — and his then-wife, Princess Diana. According to his obituary in The Times, Airy was recommended for the job by British comedian Jimmy Savile, whom Charles allowed to "say things to his face that other courtiers could not." The buttoned-up major general held the role for just under a year and reportedly found himself ill-suited for the role, and not just because marital tensions between the prince and princess were building towards their eventual breaking point. In his 2022 book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, royal expert Valentine Low cited a contemporary of Airy as saying he was a "very bad fit" for the role, and operated "completely on a different planet." "He was not attuned to Charles' growing charitable interests and struggle to understand the differences between the prince's various organisations," the insider added. "He must have been miserable. We would all talk acronyms, all this charitable, voluntary sector, government stuff, and Christopher was completely lost." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Airy's role with the royal family lasted only a year. He left the position in May 1991, and retired with his wife, Judith, to a farmhouse in Somerset. The couple were married for 65 years before Lady Airy died in January 2025. They are survived by their three children, a son and two daughters. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton and Prince William Have a Strict Rule for Staff When Interacting with Their Children
Prince William and Kate Middleton have minimal staff working at their home at Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom residence the Wales family of five moved into back in 2022. There is no live-in staff, but a nanny, gardener, and housekeeper are on the grounds frequently. The Prince and Princess of Wales have a strict rule that they require staff to abide by so as to protect their kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince William and Kate Middleton keep the staff as light as possible around their four-bedroom home, Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor. But the staff they do have are required to follow 'one strict rule in order to protect their three children,' according to The Mirror. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have no staff living with them at home, but they do have a nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrllo, around them frequently, as well as a housekeeper and a gardener, the outlet reported. There is also a team based at their parents' office at Kensington Palace, where the Wales family of five used to live before moving out to Windsor in 2022. In a recent job posting for the housekeeping role, the position was described as an 'exciting opportunity' to work for the Prince and Princess of Wales and 'join a supportive and positive team.' But there is a strict zero tolerance policy for gossiping, with William and Kate specifying that applicants had to be skilled at 'maintaining confidentiality and exercising discretion' (which, of course, makes sense). According to Valentine Low, author of Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, an employee said that casual wear is preferred around the Wales family and that formal attire is actually frowned upon (via The Sun). 'The kids run around the office, and he [William] does not want it to be stuffy,' a source told Low. 'If we have important meetings or are going to Buckingham Palace, then of course we [dress up].' In an effort to keep George, Charlotte, and Louis' childhoods as normal as possible at home, Adelaide Cottage has no royal butler, and royal biographer Robert Hardman wrote in his book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story that 'The couple did not seek to boost the staff members at Adelaide Cottage, not least because there would be little room to do so. Reports that the prince was hiring a valet were knocked back.' 'The Kensington Palace team does include a 'yeoman,' a multitasking attendant who looks after everything from luggage to uniforms, but there is no 'gentleman's gentleman' on the staff,' Hardman continued. 'And certainly no butler. It's very much them at home with the kids.' A source previously said of the Prince and Princess of Wales' family life that 'I think it would surprise people to see how ordinary things are at home. The children help with laying the table, clearing their plates when they've finished eating, and tidying up. There's no preferential treatment.' Read the original article on InStyle
Edinburgh Live
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Kate Middleton and Prince William's strict rule for staff to protect their children
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince William and Princess Kate have a non-negotiable rule in place for their trusted staff in order to shield their three children, insisting on a no-gossip policy to protect their family's privacy. The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—moved into Adelaide Cottage in 2022. Despite it being a modest four-bed home without live-in staff, a small team does pop in when needed, including nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, a gardener, and a housekeeper. Their extended team operates from 'the office' at Kensington Palace. Previously, a role advertised on the Royal household's site highlighted the need for confidentiality as an essential criteria labelling the position as an 'exciting opportunity' within a supportive environment. READ MORE - Living 'Nostradamus' makes chilling and distressing Prince Harry prediction READ MORE - Mum finds creepy hidden room in home - but is warned to 'never enter' Crucially, members of the household staff are expected to refrain entirely from gossiping, with the advert placing emphasis on "maintaining confidentiality and exercising discretion". There's also a twist when it comes to staff dress code at their residence; per Valentine Low, author of Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, a source disclosed to The Sun that casual outfits trump formal attire, suggesting an informal approach is preferred, reports the Mirror. A source has shared with the public that the Cambridge children enjoy a lively presence at home, as their father Prince William shuns formality: "The kids run around the office, and he [William] does not want it to be stuffy. If we have important meetings or are going to Buckingham Palace, then, of course, we [dress up],". Even in their residence at Adelaide Cottage, the practical couple have opted to skip adding a butler to their team, Royal biographer Robert Hardman reveals in his new book 'New King, New Court': "The couple did not seek to boost the staff numbers at Adelaide Cottage, not least because there would be little room to do so. Reports that the Prince was hiring a valet were knocked back." Hardman points out that while the Kensington Palace staff does include a versatile 'yeoman', there is no traditional 'gentleman's gentleman' or butler in the mix: "The Kensington Palace team does include a 'yeoman', a multi-tasking attendant who looks after everything from luggage to uniforms, but there is no 'gentleman's gentleman' on the staff. 'And certainly no butler,' adds one source. 'It's very much them at home with the kids.'". In related insights about the personal lives of William and Kate, an insider previously told the Daily Mail how surprisingly normal life is within their walls: "I think it would surprise people to see how ordinary things are at home. The children help with laying the table, clearing their plates when they've finished eating, and tidying up. There's no preferential treatment." This inside look into Royal staff recruitment follows reports of the ingenious strategy used by the late Queen's head of recruitment, Tracey Waterman. She revealed the uniform method of testing potential cleaners to assess their response - those who succeeded secured the roles. Tracey Waterman revealed a unique test used to gauge the attention to detail of potential Royal housekeepers during Channel 5's documentary 'Sandringham: The Royals at Christmas'. She said: "The difference between a housekeeper in a five-star hotel and in a royal palace would be attention to detail. "One of the tests I like to do, to see if a candidate has a potential eye for detail, is to place a dead fly, either in the fireplace or on the carpet. Once the dead fly is placed, I then bring the candidate into the room. "I lead them into the room quite slowly, just giving them a chance to glance at the room, have a little look at what we've got inside the room. Bringing them to the fireplace, maybe highlighting that we've got a beautiful fireplace." Waterman hopes this subtle hint will alert them to the presence of the dead fly. She concluded: "It's a great test. Maybe out of 10 people, half the candidates will notice the fly. One out of ten will actually bend down and pick it up. That's the special housekeeper."
