Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are once again at the center of controversy, with staff members accusing them of being difficult employers. According to a report published by The Hollywood Reporter, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were labeled as challenging to work for, with Meghan, in particular, being described as a “dictator in high heels.”
Following the allegations, the Sussexes’ team swiftly refuted the claims, calling the article factually incorrect and accusing the source of fabricating the story. “The Duke and Duchess work from Montecito, and we’re based in Hollywood,” a representative for the couple explained. “They likely think we’re all in the same office and that this quote would fly, but the circumstances don’t even allow for it. If she’s ‘marching around’ and ‘barking orders,’ no Archewell employee could factually claim that. It’s total nonsense.”
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Daily Mail pointed out that Meghan’s powerful Hollywood agent, Ari Emanuel, failed to prevent the critical story from being published. According to a senior Hollywood publicist, this was highly unusual. “Everyone, industry-wide, reads The Hollywood Reporter,” the source told Daily Mail.
“It’s really striking that WME did not stop this from running. WME normally—you would think—would have been threatening and denying access to other stars. Was this done here?” The allegations come amid ongoing scrutiny of the Sussexes’ work environment. Since their marriage in 2018, the couple has faced repeated speculations over staff turnover, with 18 senior-level employees having left their positions.
Most recently, Prince Harry’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, quit after only three months on the job. While the Sussexes’ team continues to dispute the accuracy of these reports, the ongoing staff departures have raised questions about their workplace dynamics, adding to the couple’s growing list of controversies.