Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are once again at the centre of attention as reports about their possible return to the UK bring renewed focus on their family and life behind the scenes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals more than six years ago and subsequently moved to the US with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Now, reports of a possible move back to Britain have put the couple back in the spotlight.
Amid the speculation, a new report has made claims about Meghan’s alleged approach to hiring household staff during her previous time in the UK.
According to Page Six, sources have alleged that Meghan’s interviews with prospective household employees were uncomfortable and unusually formal. The claims have not been independently established, and a source close to Meghan has denied them.
So, what exactly has been alleged about Meghan Markle’s staff interviews, and what has been said in response?
What Were Meghan Markle’s Alleged Rules For Staff Interviews?
According to a source who spoke to Page Six, applicants interviewing for housekeeping or maid positions were allegedly instructed to hand over their resumes and stand quietly while Meghan reviewed them. The source claimed that applicants were not permitted to speak or make eye contact with the Duchess during the process.
They said, “Applicants would come in to interview for housekeeping or maid positions and were basically forbidden from speaking to her. They would hand over their resume, then be told to stand off to the side of the room, not speak, and not make eye contact while Meghan reviewed it. She wouldn’t ask them questions or have any kind of actual conversation with them. She would take her time reading through the resume, look the person up and down, and then simply tell them they could leave.”
The account describes a hiring process that allegedly involved very little direct interaction between Meghan and the applicants.
Why Has Meghan’s Alleged Treatment Of Staff Become A Talking Point Again?
The claims have surfaced as attention turns to reports that Harry and Meghan could be looking towards the UK again. The couple’s reported return would potentially mean establishing a household in Britain and, consequently, hiring or expanding domestic staff.
One source claimed that stories about Meghan’s alleged treatment of household employees have circulated within private staffing circles for years.
According to them, “This happened with enough people that word absolutely got around among household staff. People remember how they were treated, and there are a lot of people who simply would not want to put themselves in that position and work for her now.”
Another source similarly claimed that Meghan has developed a reputation among some household staff as being “very dismissive and rude to staff.”
They said, “A lot of people in those circles talk, so stories travel. And there are definitely people who would have no interest in working for her because of what they’ve heard. The assumption is that now that Meghan and Harry are back, Meghan will probably be looking to hire household staff again, but I don’t think she’s going to have people lining up for those jobs. There’s a lot of apprehension about what working in that household would actually be like.”
Has Meghan Markle Responded To The Allegations?
A source close to Meghan has pushed back strongly against the claims. According to reports, the source said that Harry and Meghan “have always treated their staff with respect and professionalism.” The source also reportedly described the suggestion that Meghan interviewed prospective employees rudely as “categorically untrue.”
Is This The First Time Meghan Has Faced Claims About Her Staff?
The latest allegations arrive against a backdrop of previous reports and claims concerning Meghan’s relationship with members of her household and royal staff. Those accounts have generated considerable media attention over the years, while Harry and Meghan have disputed various criticisms surrounding their time as working royals.
Harry and Meghan have not publicly confirmed a permanent return to the UK, and the latest allegations about Meghan’s hiring process remain disputed.
