05 May 2023 , 00:29
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The relationship break down between Prince William and brother Prince Harry was partly due to Meghan Markle's treatment of Palace staff, a royal historian has claimed.
An investigation was launched in March 2021 and invited past and present employees to speak in confidence about their experiences of working for Meghan.
It came after it was alleged she drove out two personal assistants and staff were "humiliated" on several occasions. Meghan denies the bullying allegations with a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex branding them "a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation".
The allegations came to light just days before her controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
Meghan has been accused of bullying her staff, prompting an investigation (Getty Images)However, royal historian Robert Lacey has claimed that the alleged poor treatment of her staff was the precursor to the current tensions between the warring brothers, with William reported to have leapt to the defence of the "monarchy and the institution".
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Speaking to Sky News host Rita Panahi, Lacey said: "William split with Harry because he did not feel Meghan was treating her staff well.
"Nothing to do with race … she was accused of mistreating her staff, that’s not the way royal people are supposed to behave.
"I have spoken to people who saw these members of staff weeping, crying … who felt they had been belittled by Meghan. Now Meghan denies this, but that’s the issue."
'Harry leapt to defend his wife. William leapt to defend the monarchy and the institution' (AFP via Getty Images)He added: "Harry leapt to defend his wife. William leapt to defend the monarchy and the institution."
The Royal Family have since refused to release the details of the review. Changes are to be made with lessons having been learned, says Buckingham Palace - but the household declined to go into specifics.
Tensions between the former working royals and the monarchy continue to be strained ahead of this weekend's historic Coronation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.
The Duke of Sussex will be in attendance at his dad's ceremony on May 6 but Meghan will remain at home in California, US, with their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet.
Meghan will not be in attendance at King Charles' Coronation on Saturday (AFP/Getty Images)Despite relationships between royal members souring after the release of Harry's memoir "Spare", Meghan is keen to stop any more splits.
Archie's birthday falls on the day of the Coronation, with many royal experts believed this played a key part in Meghan's decision to stay in America.
Once the ceremony is finished, Prince Harry will race back home to LA to be back with his family to celebrate his son's fourth birthday - and could be back in time for the early evening thanks to the eight hour time difference.
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Harry and Meghan are still keen for Archie and Lilibet to have a close relationship with their grandfather - similar to the one they had with the late Queen.