On Wednesday, The Duchess of Sussex has responded to allegations of bullying staff members while she and Prince Harry lived at Kensington Palace in 2018.

According to NBC’s The Today Show, Meghan Markle issued a statement defending herself from the shocking claims. The accusations come before a tell-all interview been the royal couple and media-queen Oprah Winfrey.

A spokesperson for Markle called the claims a “calculated smear campaign.”

Related Story: Oprah Winfrey to Interview Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for CBS

“Let’s just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation,” the publicist told NBC News in a statement. “We are disappointed to see this defamatory portrayal of The Duchess of Sussex given credibility by a media outlet.”

“It’s no coincidence that distorted several-year-old accusations aimed at undermining The Duchess are being briefed to the British media shortly before she and The Duke are due to speak openly and honestly about their experience of recent years,” the statement concluded.

On Tuesday, The Times UK reported that the Duchess of Sussex allegedly bullied and was emotionally cruel to two senior staff members at Kensington Palace. She was also reportedly guilty of “undermining the confidence” of a third staffer by humiliating her.

The scathing article reported that a complaint was filed against Markle by Jason Knauf– the couple’s then-communications secretary. The report was supposedly submitted to the Knauf in October 2018.

Sources told The Times UK that Prince Harry alleged intervened and “pleaded with Knauf not to pursue it.” The couple’s spokesperson called foul, saying that the Duke of Sussex wouldn’t meddle in staff issues. Knauf reportedly penned an email to Prince William’s former private secretary Simon Case after speaking to the palace’s head of human resources, Samantha Carruthers. The email has not been seen publicly.

“I am very concerned the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of “X” was totally unacceptable,” the email allegedly read.

The email continued, “The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying “Y” and seeking to undermine her ­confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behavior towards Y.”

Whether or not the accusations’ timing is coincidental or not, The Royal Family is certainly worried about how the interview will affect its image- given King Philip’s diminishing health and Queen Elizabeth II becoming upset by what’s disclosed.

Twitter users spoke against the allegations in disbelief and questioned the press and the Royal Place (who has launched an investigation into the claims.)

 

On Tuesday, Markle’s spokesperson weighed in on the outlandish claim, “The Duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma.

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”