By Marisa Laudadio
9:54am PST, Feb 25, 2026
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In his new royal biography
William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, author
Russell Myers details the atmosphere behind palace gates in the run-up to Meghan Markle and
Prince Harry's May 2018 wedding. "It was a very stressful time, tensions were high, people were running on empty and generally working themselves to the bone trying to get across all the details for the wedding. [
Prince William] saw what was happening and apologized on behalf of his brother on more than one occasion," a source claimed, as reported by
RadarOnline.com. The Prince of Wales and wife
Kate Middleton "had spent a considerable amount of time fostering a really nice and relaxed working atmosphere, and in those few months, it was utterly extinguished. People were leaving all the time; it was horrendous," the source added.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton were growing increasingly concerned about Meghan Markle and
Prince Harry's impact on staff morale, author Russell Myers — who's also the royal editor for Britain's
Daily Mirror — claims in his new book. "In one camp you had the people who cared, wanted those working in the household to enjoy themselves while working there. And on the other side it was something different every day. Nothing was ever good enough, there were constant complaints. It was exhausting," a source told Myers, describing the divide between the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
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Things allegedly came to a head during a July 2018 meeting at
Prince William and Kate Middleton's home meant to be what author Russell Myers describes as "clear-the-air talks." Instead, it sparked a major clash and "the resulting exchange did not bode well for the future," Myers explains. According to the author, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex "were unwilling to concede they were responsible for the departure of two of Meghan's [personal assistants], or for the general desperate atmosphere, in which members of staff reported they were sick with stress." The Prince of Wales "accused Meghan of being difficult and rude and according to Harry, pointed directly at his wife," Myers claims.
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Tensions continued and by October 2018, formal complaints had been made.
Jason Knauf — who was the Kensington Palace communications secretary at the time and now works for
Prince William as CEO of the Earthshot Prize initiative — emailed the Prince of Wales' private secretary with allegations that Meghan Markle had driven out two personal assistants and "undermined" the confidence of another staffer. Those claims emerged publicly in London's
The Times newspaper in March 2021, days before Markle and
Prince Harry's headline-making interview with
Oprah Winfrey aired on CBS. The Duchess of Sussex denied the bullying allegations, saying in a statement that she was "saddened by this latest attack" on her character.
